OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE AND QUALITY-CONTROL OF ANGER TYPE GAMMA CAMERAS INCLUDING SPECT

The goal of all nuclear medicine departments is to maintain a high lev el of diagnostic accuracy in producing and interpreting nuclear medici ne studies. This goal can be achieved in part by ensuring the standard isation of the techniques employed, and by optimising and maintaining the performance of the devices being used. Acceptance or reference tes ting and routine monitoring, evaluation and maintenance, and quality c ontrol are necessary to achieve the advantages of SPECT imaging. To th is end recommendations for users have been published by Radiological H ealth Authorities in different countries and by the World Health Organ ization (WHO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for pl anar imaging reference testing and quality control. For SPECT systems several papers have been published but no formal recommendations have been proposed. In addition, the International Electrotechnical Commiss ion (IEC) and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) have published standards for manufacturers and the AAPM has published a comprehensive acceptance testing report. The American College of Nu clear Physicians (ACNP) is now attempting to standardise the measureme nt of performance of rotational SPECT systems in the field. They will propose Operational Guides for users and recommendations for quality c ontrol.