M. Bocher et al., Gamma camera-mounted anatomical X-ray tomography: technology, system characteristics and first images, EUR J NUCL, 27(6), 2000, pp. 619-627
Citations number
24
Categorie Soggetti
Radiology ,Nuclear Medicine & Imaging","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
Scintigraphic diagnosis, based on functional image interpretation, becomes
more accurate and meaningful when supported by corresponding anatomical dat
a. In order to produce anatomical images that are inherently registered wit
h images of emission computerised tomography acquired with a gamma camera,
an X-ray transmission system was mounted on the slip-ring gantry of a GEMS
Millennium VG gamma camera. The X-ray imaging system is composed of an X-ra
y tube and a set of detectors located on opposite sides of the gantry rotor
that moves around the patient along with the nuclear detectors. A cross-se
ctional anatomical transmission map is acquired as the system rotates aroun
d the patient in a manner similar to a third-generation computerised tomogr
aphy (CT) system. Following transmission, single-photon emission tomography
(SPET) or positron emission tomography (PET) coincidence detection images
are acquired and the resultant emission images are thus inherently register
ed to the anatomical maps. Attenuation correction of the emission images is
performed with the same anatomical maps to generate transmission maps. Pha
ntom experiments of system performance and examples of first SPET and coinc
idence detection patient images are presented. Despite limitations of the s
ystem when compared with a state of the art CT scanner, the transmission an
atomical maps allow for precise anatomical localisation and for attenuation
correction of the emission images.