Operational and Performance Experience with uMI550 Digital PET-CT during Routine Quality Control Procedures

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Nuclear Medicine
• Radiological Physics

Background:

• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner quality control (QC) is crucial for performance monitoring.
• Current QC protocols often require radioactive sources, posing radiation risks to operators.
• Standardized QC procedures are essential, adhering to manufacturer specifications and regulatory guidelines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel daily QC protocol for PET scanners that eliminates the need for radioactive sources.
• To assess the feasibility of using Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 (18F-FDG) as a substitute for traditional Germanium-68/Sodium-22 (Ge-68/Na-22) sources in weekly QC.
• To demonstrate the operational and performance benefits of radiation-free QC methods.

Main Methods:

• The study utilized an uMI550 digital PET-CT scanner.
• Daily QC checks included system temperature, humidity, count rate, data link status, and voltage without a radioactive source.
• Weekly QC involved a 18F-FDG source in a rod phantom, assessing parameters like lookup table drift and energy drift.

Main Results:

• Over 200 daily QC tests and 50 weekly QC tests were successfully completed.
• No errors or warnings were observed during daily QC procedures.
• The 18F-FDG phantom provided consistent results for weekly QC, meeting manufacturer specifications.

Conclusions:

• A new approach for daily PET QC significantly reduces operator radiation exposure.
• This method offers commercial and operational advantages, maintaining consistent scanner performance.
• Implementing radiation-free QC procedures enhances safety for PET scanner operating staff.