title: 18 F-Fluorodeoxyglucose triple-headed coincidence detection imaging in oncology: preliminary results and comparison with dedicated PET.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dual head coincidence (DHC) imaging has been proposed as a valuable and cheaper alternative to oncological PET. The increased sensitivity of the recently-developed triple-headed gamma camera (THC) optimized for coincidence detection has not been either validated or compared to the sensitivity of a dedicated PET system in a clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Differences in contrast-to-noise-ratio (CNR) between dedicated FDG PET, DHC and THC imaging were assessed using a hot sphere phantom. Twenty-two oncological patients were prospectively studied with consecutive whole body FDG PET and FDG THC imaging. The images were visually read by 2 experienced nuclear medicine specialists. The diagnostic sensitivity of FDG THC imaging was assessed using FDG PET as the imaging gold standard. Lesion size was determined using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean gain in CNR for THC as compared to DHC imaging was 35% (10-56%). Of 63 lesions, 58 (92%) on FDG PET were also detected with THC imaging. Considering only lesions smaller than 15 mm, the relative sensitivity was 86% (24/29). All lesions above 15 mm (n=34) were detected using THC imaging.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The first clinical results for THC imaging are promising. The overall relative sensitivity in this limited series was 92%. Only a few lesions smaller than 15 mm were missed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nuclear Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. frederic.dewinter@rug.ac.be
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Winter
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van de Wiele
authors.forename: Stefaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vandenberghe
authors.forename: Bieke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vandenbossche
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: D'Asseler
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huglo
authors.forename: Rudi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dierckx
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18