A comparative study of scatter correction methods for scintigraphic images.
Phantom studies have demonstrated that factor analysis of medical image sequences using target apex-seeking (FAMIS-TAS) applied to spectral scintigraphic image sequences is an efficient adaptive scatter correction method. We assessed the improvement in quality of clinical images using FAMIS-TAS as compared with two other scatter correction techniques: conventional 20% photopeak window (PW) and scatter window subtraction (SWS). Thirty normal technetium-99m hydroxymethylene diphosphonate bone scans were processed. Bone to soft tissue contrasts and signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios were measured. The overall image quality was evaluated using an observer testing questionnaire submitted to four physicians. Quantitative parameters showed that FAMIS-TAS images displayed the best bone to soft tissue contrasts and contrast-to-noise ratios, but the lowest signal-to-noise ratios. PW images presented the lowest contrasts and contrast-to-noise ratios, and the highest signal-to-noise ratios. SWS gave intermediate results. According to the observer testing results, PW images showed the lowest bone to soft tissue contrasts and the highest signal-to-noise ratios. FAMIS-TAS images showed the lowest signal-to-noise ratios. The images processed by the three methods displayed the same anatomical information.
Bonnin
F
F
INSERM U66, Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France.
Buvat
I
I
Benali
H
H
Di Paola
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate
D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate