Optimisation of whole-body PET/CT scanning protocols

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Nuclear Medicine
• Radiology

Background:

• Positron emission tomography (PET) is a key in vivo imaging tool, widely used with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in oncology, cardiology, neurology, and psychiatry.
• Dual-modality PET/CT systems integrate anatomical (CT) and functional/metabolic (PET) imaging, offering a comprehensive diagnostic approach.
• PET/CT has become standard in clinical diagnosis, staging, restaging, and monitoring treatment response, particularly in oncology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the fundamental principles of dual-modality PET/CT imaging.
• To address practical challenges in optimizing clinical PET/CT scanning protocols.
• To highlight the need for standardized and validated acquisition and processing methods.

Main Methods:

• Review of basic principles of dual-modality imaging.
• Discussion of practical considerations for PET/CT protocol optimization.
• Emphasis on the need for validation of acquisition and processing parameters.

Main Results:

• PET/CT provides complementary anatomical and metabolic information.
• Key unanswered questions remain regarding optimal tracer selection, imaging procedures, contrast-enhanced CT timing, and processing protocols.
• Each PET/CT acquisition-processing combination requires independent optimization and validation.

Conclusions:

• Optimizing PET/CT scanning protocols is essential for maximizing the clinical utility of this integrated imaging modality.
• Further research and standardization are needed to address the complexities of PET/CT protocol development.
• Standardized and validated protocols will enhance diagnostic accuracy and patient management across various clinical applications.