title: Attenuation correction synthesis for hybrid PET-MR scanners.
abstract: The combination of functional and anatomical imaging technologies such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Computed Tomography (CT) has shown its value in the preclinical and clinical fields. In PET/CT hybrid acquisition systems, CT-derived attenuation maps enable a more accurate PET reconstruction. However, CT provides only very limited soft-tissue contrast and exposes the patient to an additional radiation dose. In comparison, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) provides good soft-tissue contrast and the ability to study functional activation and tissue microstructures, but does not directly provide patient-specific electron density maps for PET reconstruction. The aim of the proposed work is to improve PET/MR reconstruction by generating synthetic CTs and attenuation-maps. The synthetic images are generated through a multi-atlas information propagation scheme, locally matching the MRI-derived patient's morphology to a database of pre-acquired MRI/CT pairs. Results show improvements in CT synthesis and PET reconstruction accuracy when compared to a segmentation method using an Ultrashort-Echo-Time MRI sequence.
authors: Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Ninon
authors: N
authors: Burgos
authors: Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Manuel Jorge
authors: MJ
authors: Cardoso
authors: Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Modat
authors: Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Pedemonte
authors: Institute of Nuclear Medicine, University College London, London, UK.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Dickson
authors: Institute of Nuclear Medicine, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Barnes
authors: Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL IoN, London, UK.
authors: John S
authors: JS
authors: Duncan
authors: Centre for Medical Imaging, University College London, London, UK.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Atkinson
authors: Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Simon R
authors: SR
authors: Arridge
authors: Institute of Nuclear Medicine, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Brian F
authors: BF
authors: Hutton
authors: Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London, UK.
authors: Sebastien
authors: S
authors: Ourselin
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D016477:Artifacts; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D064847:Multimodal Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity