title: Characterization of 3-Dimensional PET Systems for Accurate Quantification of Myocardial Blood Flow.
abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) mode imaging is the current standard for PET/CT systems. Dynamic imaging for quantification of myocardial blood flow with short-lived tracers, such as82Rb-chloride, requires accuracy to be maintained over a wide range of isotope activities and scanner counting rates. We proposed new performance standard measurements to characterize the dynamic range of PET systems for accurate quantitative imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  82Rb or13N-ammonia (1,100-3,000 MBq) was injected into the heart wall insert of an anthropomorphic torso phantom. A decaying isotope scan was obtained over 5 half-lives on 9 different 3D PET/CT systems and 1 3D/2-dimensional PET-only system. Dynamic images (28 × 15 s) were reconstructed using iterative algorithms with all corrections enabled. Dynamic range was defined as the maximum activity in the myocardial wall with less than 10% bias, from which corresponding dead-time, counting rates, and/or injected activity limits were established for each scanner. Scatter correction residual bias was estimated as the maximum cavity blood-to-myocardium activity ratio. Image quality was assessed via the coefficient of variation measuring nonuniformity of the left ventricular myocardium activity distribution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maximum recommended injected activity/body weight, peak dead-time correction factor, counting rates, and residual scatter bias for accurate cardiac myocardial blood flow imaging were 3-14 MBq/kg, 1.5-4.0, 22-64 Mcps singles and 4-14 Mcps prompt coincidence counting rates, and 2%-10% on the investigated scanners. Nonuniformity of the myocardial activity distribution varied from 3% to 16%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Accurate dynamic imaging is possible on the 10 3D PET systems if the maximum injected MBq/kg values are respected to limit peak dead-time losses during the bolus first-pass transit.
authors.affiliation: National Cardiac PET Centre, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Renaud
authors.affiliation: KMH Cardiology & Diagnostic Centre, Mississauga Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guimond
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Mikaël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trottier
authors.affiliation: Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pibarot
authors.affiliation: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Turcotte
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Conor
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maguire
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Lucille
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lalonde
authors.affiliation: St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gulenchyn
authors.affiliation: St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Troy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Farncombe
authors.affiliation: Lawson Health Research Institute, London Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wisenberg
authors.affiliation: INVIA Medical Imaging Solutions, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moody
authors.affiliation: INVIA Medical Imaging Solutions, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Aurora Cardiovascular Services, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and.
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Port
authors.affiliation: Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Timothy G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Turkington
authors.affiliation: National Cardiac PET Centre, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Rob S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Beanlands
authors.affiliation: National Cardiac PET Centre, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa Ontario, Canada radekemp@ottawaheart.ca.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: deKemp
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D055414:Myocardial Perfusion Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals
keywords: 82Rb; cardiac positron emission tomography; dynamic range