使用噪声等效计数率和NEMA体模进行PET图像质量评估。

The use of noise equivalent count rate and the NEMA phantom for PET image quality evaluation.

作者信息

Yang Xin, Peng Hao

机构信息

Department of Oncology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Department of Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Department of Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

出版信息

Phys Med. 2015 Mar;31(2):179-84. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2015.01.003. Epub 2015 Jan 24.

DOI:10.1016/j.ejmp.2015.01.003

PMID:25622772

Abstract

PET image quality is directly associated with two important parameters among others: count-rate performance and image signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The framework of noise equivalent count rate (NECR) was developed back in the 1990s and has been widely used since then to evaluate count-rate performance for PET systems. The concept of NECR is not entirely straightforward, however, and among the issues requiring clarification are its original definition, its relationship to image quality, and its consistency among different derivation methods. In particular, we try to answer whether a higher NECR measurement using a standard NEMA phantom actually corresponds to better imaging performance. The paper includes the following topics: 1) revisiting the original analytical model for NECR derivation; 2) validating three methods for NECR calculation based on the NEMA phantom/standard; and 3) studying the spatial dependence of NECR and quantitative relationship between NECR and image SNR.

摘要

PET图像质量与其他几个重要参数直接相关，其中包括计数率性能和图像信噪比（SNR）。噪声等效计数率（NECR）框架早在20世纪90年代就已开发出来，从那时起就被广泛用于评估PET系统的计数率性能。然而，NECR的概念并非完全直观，需要澄清的问题包括其原始定义、与图像质量的关系以及不同推导方法之间的一致性。特别是，我们试图回答使用标准NEMA体模进行的更高NECR测量是否实际上对应于更好的成像性能。本文包括以下主题：1）重新审视NECR推导的原始分析模型；2）验证基于NEMA体模/标准的三种NECR计算方法；3）研究NECR的空间依赖性以及NECR与图像SNR之间的定量关系。