Total Body PET-CT Protocols in Oncology.

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Medicine
• Radiological Imaging
• Oncology

Background:

• Long axial field of view (LAFOV) PET-CT scanners, including total body systems, represent a significant advancement over standard axial field of view (SAFOV) scanners.
• LAFOV scanners offer up to 20-fold higher sensitivity, leading to enhanced lesion detectability and improved image quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review dedicated PET acquisition protocols for oncological studies using LAFOV scanners.
• To present current literature data on the application of LAFOV PET-CT in oncology.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature and technical specifications of LAFOV PET-CT scanners.
• Discussion of static, dynamic, and parametric whole-body PET acquisition protocols.
• Consideration of emerging AI-driven applications for image reconstruction and analysis.

Main Results:

• LAFOV PET-CT facilitates reduced acquisition times and lower radiotracer doses, enabling longitudinal studies and increased patient throughput.
• Improved sensitivity and time resolution allow for whole-body dynamic PET scanning and parametric imaging, crucial for characterizing novel radiopharmaceuticals and cancer biology.
• The ability to perform delayed scans with good image quality is beneficial for long half-life radionuclides and pharmaceuticals, such as 89Zr-labeled antibodies.

Conclusions:

• LAFOV PET-CT scanners provide substantial advantages in sensitivity, speed, and imaging capabilities for oncological applications.
• These advancements support detailed characterization of cancer, assessment of treatment response, and facilitate novel radiopharmaceutical development.
• Future developments, including AI, promise further enhancements in image quality and quantitative analysis for total metabolic tumor volume assessment.