Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 27, 2026
High-Resolution Cardiac Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography for Small Animals
Published on: December 16, 2022
Comparative analysis of iterative reconstruction algorithms with resolution recovery and time of flight modeling for
Roberta Matheoud1, Michela Lecchi2, Domenico Lizio1
1Departments of Medical Physics and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, Novara, Italy.
Background:
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the image quality in cardiac 18F-FDG PET using the time of flight (TOF) and/or point spread function (PSF) modeling in the iterative reconstruction (IR).
Methods:
Three scanners and an anthropomorphic cardiac phantom with an insert simulating a transmural defect (TD) were used. Two sets of scans (with/without TD) were acquired, and four reconstruction schemes were considered: (1) IR; (2) IR + PSF, (3) IR + TOF, and (4) IR + TOF + PSF. LV wall thickness (FWHM), contrast between LV wall and inner chamber (C IC), and TD contrast in LV wall (C TD) were evaluated.
Results:
Tests of the reconstruction protocols showed a decrease in FWHM from IR (13 mm) to IR + PSF (11 mm); an increase in the C IC from IR (65%) to IR + PSF (71%) and from IR + TOF (72%) to IR + TOF + PSF (77%); and an increase in the C TD from IR + PSF (72%) to IR + TOF (75%) and to IR + TOF + PSF (77%). Tests of the scanner/software combinations showed a decrease in FWHM from Gemini_TF (13 mm) to Biograph_mCT (12 mm) and to Discovery_690 (11 mm); an increase in the C IC from Gemini_TF (65%) to Biograph_mCT (73%) and to Discovery_690 (75%); and an increase in the C TD from Gemini_TF/Biograph_mCT (72%) to Discovery_690 (77%).
Conclusion:
The introduction of TOF and PSF increases image quality in cardiac 18F-FDG PET. The scanner/software combinations exhibit different performances, which should be taken into consideration when making cross comparisons.
