Evaluation of alternative scintillation crystals to improve performance and cost-effectiveness in total-body PET...

Introduction.Total-body PET scanners are advanced technologies in medical imaging, enabling whole-body imaging with high precision and sensitivity. They reduce radioactive dose and shorten imaging time. One of the most advanced systems is the Biograph Vision Quadra by Siemens Healthineers, representing the new generation of this technology. With LSO crystals and an axial field of view of 106 cm, it provides complete body imaging in a single scan, improving efficiency and safety. However, their high cost remains a challenge; prices typically range from 3 to 5 million dollars. To reduce costs and improve performance, alternative scintillation crystals such as LYSO, BGO, and NaI (Tl) have been investigated due to their properties of light sensitivity, decay time, and production cost.Materials and methods.The performance of the Biograph Vision Quadra was evaluated using the GATE Monte Carlo simulation tool. Simulations followed NEMA NU 2-2018 standards to assess parameters including image resolution, sensitivity, count rate, and scatter fraction. Data were reconstructed and analyzed using CASToR and AMIDE software.Results.The simulations closely matched experimental data, showing an error rate of about 8% with clinical data, confirming their accuracy. Among the crystals, BGO proved the most cost-effective, offering 19% higher sensitivity than LSO, LYSO, and NaI (Tl), while maintaining adequate spatial resolution and NECR. Although its light output is lower than LSO, BGO's cost-effectiveness and good performance in sensitivity and count rate make it a suitable choice for reducing scanner costs.Conclusion.Replacing LSO with BGO can significantly improve the cost-effectiveness of the Biograph Vision Quadra without compromising image quality. This study highlights the potential for optimizing PET scanners through alternative scintillation materials, improving accessibility and supporting early disease detection in clinical practice.