Optimization of pediatric FDG-PET/CT examinations based on physical indicators using the SiPM-PET/CT system
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 6, 2025
Whole-body PET/MRI of Pediatric Patients: The Details That Matter
Published on: December 19, 2017
Yoshiki Owaki1,2, Kazuya Minamishima1, Kiyotaka Nakajima1
1Office of Radiation Technology, Keio University Hospital.
Insights
Optimizing Silicon photomultiplier-PET/CT scans for pediatric patients requires tailored acquisition and reconstruction. This study found specific settings improve image quality and reduce scan times across age groups.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Nuclear Medicine
- Radiology
Background:
- Pediatric Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) imaging presents unique challenges due to varying patient anatomy.
- Optimizing acquisition and reconstruction parameters is crucial for achieving diagnostic image quality in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine optimal Silicon photomultiplier-PET/CT (SiPM-PET/CT) acquisition and image reconstruction conditions for different pediatric age groups.
- To establish appropriate scan times for pediatric patients comparable to adult imaging standards.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a phantom designed to mimic torso dimensions across age groups (neonates to adults).
- Evaluated image quality using metrics like Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), background variability, contrast, and noise equivalent counts.
- Assessed various Gaussian filter widths and iteration numbers for image reconstruction.
Main Results:
- Optimal Gaussian filter settings varied by iteration count (0-2 mm for early iterations, 2-4 mm for later).
- Reduced acquisition times were identified for pediatric groups: 30s (neonates/1-year-olds), 60s (5/10-year-olds), and 75s (15-year-olds) to match adult image quality.
Conclusions:
- Appropriate reconstruction parameters enable high-quality PET imaging in pediatric patients.
- Shortened acquisition times are feasible for pediatric SiPM-PET/CT examinations when optimized settings are applied.
Objective:
This study aimed to investigate the appropriate Silicon photomultiplier -PET/CT acquisition and image reconstruction conditions for each age group.
Methods:
The original phantom was developed to reflect the thickness and width of the torso in each age group (neonates, 1-year-olds, 5-year-olds, 10-year-olds, 15-year-olds, and adults). The ratio of hot spheres to background radioactivity was 4:1, and the radioactivity concentration was adjusted according to the Japanese consensus guidelines for appropriate implementation of pediatric nuclear medicine examinations. We evaluated the root mean square error (RMSE) as an assessment/function of the standardized uptake value of each hot sphere, the background variability (N10 mm), the % contrast of the hot sphere (QH, 10 mm/N10 mm), and the noise equivalent counts to determine the optimal reconstruction parameters and the appropriate acquisition time.
Results:
The minimum RMSE was obtained by setting the half-width of the Gaussian filter to 0-2 mm for iteration 1 or 2 and to 2-4 mm for iteration 3 or more. The acquisition times that satisfied the image quality equivalent to 120 s acquisitions in the adult phantoms were 30 s in the neonatal and 1-year-old phantoms, 60 s in the 5- and 10-year-old phantoms, and 75 s in the 15-year-old phantoms.
Conclusion:
This study demonstrated that good PET images could be obtained with short acquisition times when the examination is performed under appropriate reconstruction conditions.
More Related Videos
06:53Management of Respiratory Motion Artefacts in 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography using an Amplitude-Based Optimal Respiratory Gating Algorithm
Published on: July 23, 2020
10:53Functional Imaging of Brown Fat in Mice with 18F-FDG micro-PET/CT
Published on: November 23, 2012
Related Concept Videos
01:29Positron Emission Tomography
One of the main requirements of a PET scan is a positron-emitting radioisotope, which is produced in a cyclotron and then attached to a substance used by the part of the body...
01:25Imaging Studies II: Positron Emission Tomography and Scintigraphy
Fundamental Principles of PET
01:13Radiological Investigation III: Pulmonary Angiogram and PET Scan
Pulmonary Angiogram
A Pulmonary Angiogram is an invasive procedure involving injecting a contrast medium through a catheter threaded into the pulmonary artery or the right side of the heart to visualize the pulmonary vasculature. Computed Tomography (CT) scans have mainly replaced this...