Development of a practical image-based scatter correction method for brain perfusion SPECT: comparison with the TEW method.
OBJECTIVE
An image-based scatter correction (IBSC) method was developed to convert scatter-uncorrected into scatter-corrected SPECT images. The purpose of this study was to validate this method by means of phantom simulations and human studies with 99mTc-labeled tracers, based on comparison with the conventional triple energy window (TEW) method.


METHODS
The IBSC method corrects scatter on the reconstructed image I(mub)AC with Chang's attenuation correction factor. The scatter component image is estimated by convolving I(mub)AC with a scatter function followed by multiplication with an image-based scatter fraction function. The IBSC method was evaluated with Monte Carlo simulations and 99mTc-ethyl cysteinate dimer SPECT human brain perfusion studies obtained from five volunteers. The image counts and contrast of the scatter-corrected images obtained by the IBSC and TEW methods were compared.


RESULTS
Using data obtained from the simulations, the image counts and contrast of the scatter-corrected images obtained by the IBSC and TEW methods were found to be nearly identical for both gray and white matter. In human brain images, no significant differences in image contrast were observed between the IBSC and TEW methods.


CONCLUSIONS
The IBSC method is a simple scatter correction technique feasible for use in clinical routine.
Shidahara
Miho
M
Department of Brain Science and Molecular Imaging, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology Research Institute, 36-3, Gengo Morioka-cho, Obu, Aichi, 474-8522, Japan. sidahara@nils.go.jp
Watabe
Hiroshi
H
Kim
Kyeong Min
KM
Kato
Takashi
T
Kawatsu
Shoji
S
Kato
Rikio
R
Yoshimura
Kumiko
K
Iida
Hidehiro
H
Ito
Kengo
K
D000465:Algorithms; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*