Department of Radiology, Toyohashi Municipal Hospital, Toyohashi, Japan.
Department of Quantum Medical Technology, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, 5-11-80 Kodatsuno, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 9200942, Japan.
Phys Eng Sci Med. 2023 Jun;46(2):839-849. doi: 10.1007/s13246-023-01257-0. Epub 2023 May 1.
Single-photon emission computed tomography with X-ray computed tomography (SPECT/CT) systems have diversified due to the remarkable developments made by each manufacturer. This study aimed to optimize the reconstruction parameters of six state-of-the-art SPECT/CT systems and compare their image quality of bone SPECT. SPECT images were acquired on SPECT/CT systems, including Symbia Intevo, Discovery NM/CT 670, Discovery NM/CT 870 CZT, Brightview XCT, and VERITON-CT. SIM bone phantom with tough lung phantoms on both sides of the spinal inserts that simulate the thorax was used for image quality assessment. SPECT images were obtained at individual workstations using an ordered subset expectation maximization method with three-dimensional resolution recovery, as well as CT attenuation and scatter correction, subset 2, iteration 12-84, and a full width at half maximum 10-mm Gaussian smooth filter. An automatic image analysis software dedicated to SIM bone phantom was used to assess the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), relative recovery coefficient, percentage of coefficient of variance, contrast, and detectability. The optimal parameters for each system were defined with superior detectability of spherical lesions and noise characteristics, as well as the highest CNR. All systems exhibited better image quality indexes using the optimal parameters than using the manufacturer's recommended parameters. The detectability of all systems was in agreement while using the optimal parameters. Detectability agreement can be achieved by optimizing the reconstruction parameters for different reconstruction algorithms, which can further improve the image quality. Therefore, future research should focus on optimal reconstruction parameters for SPECT alone.
单光子发射计算机断层扫描与 X 射线计算机断层扫描（SPECT/CT）系统由于每个制造商的显著发展而多样化。本研究旨在优化六种最先进的 SPECT/CT 系统的重建参数，并比较其骨 SPECT 的图像质量。在 SPECT/CT 系统上获取 SPECT 图像，包括 Symbia Intevo、Discovery NM/CT 670、Discovery NM/CT 870 CZT、Brightview XCT 和 VERITON-CT。使用带有模拟胸部的脊柱插入物两侧坚韧肺幻影的 SIM 骨幻影进行图像质量评估。使用有序子集期望最大化方法在单个工作站上获取 SPECT 图像，该方法具有三维分辨率恢复、CT 衰减和散射校正、子集 2、迭代 12-84 和全宽半最大值 10-mm 高斯平滑滤波器。使用专门用于 SIM 骨幻影的自动图像分析软件评估对比度噪声比（CNR）、相对恢复系数、方差系数百分比、对比度和可检测性。使用具有更好的球形病变可检测性和噪声特性以及最高 CNR 的参数定义每个系统的最佳参数。与使用制造商推荐的参数相比，所有系统在使用最佳参数时都显示出更好的图像质量指标。所有系统在使用最佳参数时的可检测性一致。通过优化不同重建算法的重建参数，可以实现可检测性的一致性，从而进一步提高图像质量。因此，未来的研究应该专注于 SPECT 单独的最佳重建参数。
