Clinical Performance Comparison of a Long Versus a Short Axial Field-of-View PET/CT Using EARL-Compliant
Mostafa Roya1, Johannes H van Snick2, Riemer H J A Slart2,3
1Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands. m.roya@umcg.nl.
Molecular Imaging and Biology
|August 2, 2024
Summary
The Biograph Vision Quadra PET/CT system offers comparable image quality and improved tumor demarcation compared to the Vision system. Its shorter scan times make it suitable for multicenter studies and routine clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Medicine
- Medical Imaging
- Radiology
Background:
- Standardized performance comparisons are crucial for ensuring consistent PET/CT image quality across different centers.
- The European Association of Nuclear Medicine Research Ltd. (EARL) provides guidelines for these inter-system comparisons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the performance of the long axial field-of-view Biograph Vision Quadra with its predecessor, the short axial field-of-view Biograph Vision.
- To evaluate image quality, noise, and tumor demarcation between the two PET/CT systems.
Main Methods:
- Twenty patients with suspected tumor lesions underwent PET/CT scans using both the Vision and Quadra systems.
- Scans involved a weight-based 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose injection, with 15-min scans on the Vision and 3-min scans on the Quadra.
- Image quality, noise, and tumor demarcation were assessed visually by four physicians, and semiquantitative analysis using standardized uptake values (SUVs) was performed.
Main Results:
- Inter-reader agreement for image quality and noise was good to very good (0.62–0.81).
- Tumor demarcation showed fair agreement (0.29–0.39) but was significantly improved on the Quadra system (p=0.015).
- The Quadra system demonstrated comparable diagnostic image quality and semiquantitative accuracy.
Conclusions:
- The Biograph Vision Quadra is suitable for routine clinical use and multicenter studies.
- It offers comparable diagnostic image quality and semiquantitative accuracy to the Vision system.
- The Quadra system provides improved tumor demarcation and significantly shorter scan durations.
