Optimization of parathyroid imaging by simultaneous dual energy planar and single photon emission tomography.
BACKGROUND
Single photon emission tomography (SPET) gives valuable 3-dimensional information, but prolongs the time of imaging and increases the possibility of patient movement. We therefore investigated a method for the optimization of SPET.


METHODS
Using an in-house fabricated thyroid/parathyroid neck phantom simultaneous dual energy (DE) 1223I/99mTc imaging to localize parathyroid glands was assessed both in planar and SPET modes.


RESULTS
Experiments demonstrated improved spatial resolution and contrast for planar pinhole imaging compared to parallel collimation. For DE-SPET compared to planar pinhole imaging more glands in the phantom were visualized by the improved contrast.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that DE-SPET for parathyroid imaging is feasible to aid the accurate localization of parathyroid adenomas. For planar imaging pinhole collimation is superior to parallel hole collimation.
Dontu
Vijay S
VS
Nuclear Medicine Department, Kent & Canterbury Hospital, East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust, Ethelbert Road, Canterbury CT1 3NG, Kent, UK. vijay-dontu@hotmail.com
Kettle
Andrew G
AG
O'Doherty
Michael J
MJ
Coakley
Anthony J
AJ
D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D013667:Technetium; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013667:Technetium