Evaluation of Image Quality Based on Time of Flight in PET/CT

PET/CT에서 재구성 프로그램의 성능 평가

Purpose : PET/CT is widely used for early checking up of cancer and following up of pre and post operation. Image reconstruction method is advanced with mechanical function. We want to evaluate image quality of each reconstruction program based on time of flight (TOF). Materials and Methods : After acquiring phantom images during 2 minutes with Gemini TF (Philips, USA), Biograph mCT (Siemens, USA) and Discovery 690 (GE, USA), we reconstructed image applied to Astonish TF (Philips, USA), ultraHD PET (Siemens, USA), Sharp IR (GE, USA) and not applied. inside of Flangeless Esser PET phantom (Data Spectrum corp., USA) was filled with $^{18}F$-FDG 1.11 kBq/ml (30 Ci/ml) and 4 hot inserts (8. 12. 16. 25 mm) were filled with 8.88 kBq/ml (240 ${\mu}Ci/ml$) the ratio of background activity and hot inserts activity was 1 : 8. Inside of triple line phantom (Data Spectrum corp., USA) was filled with $^{18}F$-FDG 37 MBq/ml (1 mCi). Three of lines were filled with 0.37 MBq (100 ${\mu}Ci$). Contrast ratio and background variability were acquired from reconstruction image used Flangeless Esser PET phantom and resolution was acquired from reconstruction image used triple line phantom. Results : The contrast ratio of image which was not applied to Astonish TF was 8.69, 12.28, 19.31, 25.80% in phantom lid of which size was 8, 12, 16, 25 mm and it which was applied to Astonish TF was 6.24, 13.24, 19.55, 27.60%. It which was not applied to ultraHD PET was 4.94, 12.68, 22.09, 30.14%, it which was applied to ultraHD PET was 4.76, 13.23, 23.72, 31.65%. It which was not applied to SharpIR was 13.18, 17.44, 28.76, 34.67%, it which was applied to SharpIR was 13.15, 18.32, 30.33, 35.73%. The background variability of image which was not applied to Astonish TF was 5.51, 5.42, 7.13, 6.28%. it which was applied to Astonish TF was 7.81, 7.94, 6.40 6.28%. It which was not applied to ultraHD PET was 6.46, 6.63, 5.33, 5.21%, it which was applied to ultraHD PET was 6.08, 6.08, 4.45, 4.58%. It which was not applied to SharpIR was 5.93, 4.82, 4.45, 5.09%, it which was applied to SharpIR was 4.80, 3.92, 3.63, 4.50%. The resolution of phantom line of which location was upper, center, right, which was not applied to Astonish TF was 10.77, 11.54, 9.34 mm it which was applied to Astonish TF was 9.54, 8.90, 8.88 mm. It which was not applied to ultraHD PET was 7.84, 6.95, 8.32 mm, it which was applied to ultraHD PET was 7.51, 6.66, 8.27 mm. It which was not applied to SharpIR was 9.35, 8.69, 8.99, it which was applied to SharpIR was 9.88, 9.18, 9.00 mm. Conclusion : Image quality was advanced generally while reconstruction program which is based on time of flight was used. Futhermore difference of result compared each manufacture reconstruction program showed up, however this is caused by specification of instrument of each manufacture and difference of reconstruction algorithm. Therefore we need further examination to find out appropriate reconstruction condition while using reconstruction program used for advance of image quality.

암의 조기검진 및 수술 전후 추적검사에 유용하게 이용되고 있는 PET/CT는 영상의 질을 향상시키기 위하여 기계적인 성능 향상과 더불어 영상 재구성방법도 발전되어 왔다. 본 연구는 Time of Flight (TOF)를 기반으로 한 재구성 프로그램들에 대하여 영상의 질을 평가하고자 한다. Gemini TF, Biograph mCT, Discovery 690을 이용하여 phantom 영상을 동일한 조건으로 2분 동안 영상을 획득 후 Astonish TF, ultraHD PET, SharpIR을 적용한 것과 적용하지 않은 것에 대하여 영상을 재구성하였다. Flangeless Esser PET phantom 의 내부에는 $^{18}F$-FDG 1.11 kBq/ml (30 ${\mu}Ci/ml$)를 채우고 4개의 열소 원통(8, 12, 16, 25 mm)에는 8.88 kBq/ml (240 ${\mu}Ci/ml$)를 채워서 배후 방사능과 열소 원통 방사능의 비율이 1:8이 되도록 제작하였고 triple line phantom의 내부에는 $^{18}F$-FDG 37 MBq (1 mCi)를 채우고 세 개의 line에는 0.37 MBq/ml (100 uCi)를 주입하여 제작하였다. Flangeless Esser PET phantom을 사용한 재구성 영상에서 contrast ratio와 background variability를 구하였고, triple line phantom을 사용한 재구성 영상에서 resolution을 측정하였다. Phantom lid 크기가 8, 12, 16, 25 mm에서의 contrast ratio는 Astonish TF를 적용하지 않은 영상에서 8.69, 12.28, 19.31, 25.80%, 적용한 영상에서는 6.24, 13.24, 19.55, 27.60%, ultraHD PET를 적용하지 않은 영상에서 4.94, 12.68, 22.09, 30.14%, 적용한 영상에서는 4.76, 13.23, 23.72, 31.65%, SharpIR를 적용하지 않은 영상에서 13.18, 17.44, 28.76, 34.67%, 적용한 영상에서는 13.15, 18.32, 30.33, 35.73%로 나타났다. Background variability는 Astonish TF를 적용하지 않은 영상에서 5.51, 5.42, 7.13, 6.28%, 적용한 영상에서는 7.81, 7.94, 6.40, 6.28%, ultraHD PET를 적용하지 않은 영상에서 6.46, 6.63, 5.33, 5.21%, 적용한 영상에서는 6.08, 6.08, 4.45, 4.58%, SharpIR를 적용하지 않은 영상에서 5.93, 4.82, 4.45, 5.09%, 적용한 영상에서는 4.80, 3.92, 3.63, 4.50%로 나타났다. Phantom line 위치가 upper, center, right에서의 resolution은 Astonish TF를 적용하지 않은 영상에서 10.77, 11.54, 9.34 mm, 적용한 영상에서는 9.54, 8.90, 8.88 mm, ultraHD PET를 적용하지 않은 영상에서 7.84, 6.95, 8.32 mm, 적용한 영상에서는 7.51, 6.66, 8.27 mm, SharpIR를 적용하지 않은 영상에서 9.35, 8.69, 8.99 mm, 적용한 영상에서는 9.88, 9.18, 9.00 mm로 나타났다. TOF를 기반으로 하여 영상의 질을 향상시키기 위한 재구성 프로그램 사용 시 전반적으로 영상의 질적 향상이 이루어짐을 알 수 있었다. 또한 제조사별 재구성 프로그램 비교에 대해서는 어느 정도의 결과 값의 차이를 보였지만 이는 제조사별 장비의 특성과 재구성 알고리즘의 차이로 인한 결과라고 생각된다. 따라서 각 병원에서는 영상의 질을 향상시키기 위해 사용되는 재구성 프로그램을 이용함에 있어서 프로그램에 맞는 적절한 재구성 조건을 찾기 위한 추가적인 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.