TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of tissue-independent positron range correction on [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC and [68Ga]Ga-PSMA PET image reconstructions
T2 - a patient data study
AU - Gavriilidis, Prodromos
AU - Mottaghy, Felix M.
AU - Koole, Michel
AU - van de Weijer, Tineke
AU - Mitea, Cristina
AU - van der Pol, Jochem A. J.
AU - van Nijnatten, Thiemo J. A.
AU - Jansen, Floris P.
AU - Wierts, Roel
PY - 2025/1/1
Y1 - 2025/1/1
N2 - Purpose: The positron range effect can impair PET image quality of Gallium-68 (
68Ga). A positron range correction (PRC) can be applied to reduce this effect. In this study, the effect of a tissue-independent PRC for
68Ga was investigated on patient data. Methods: PET/CT data (40 patients: [
68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC or [
68Ga]Ga-PSMA) were reconstructed using Q.Clear reconstruction algorithm. Two reconstructions were performed per patient, Q.Clear with and without PRC. SUV
max and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) values per lesion were compared between PRC and non-PRC images. Five experienced nuclear medicine physicians reviewed the images and chose the preferred reconstruction based on the image quality, lesion detectability, and diagnostic confidence. Results: A total of 155 lesions were identified. The PRC resulted in statistically significant increase of the SUV
max and CNR for soft tissue lesions (6.4%, p < 0.001; 8.6%, p < 0.001), bone lesions (14.6%, p < 0.001; 12.5%, p < 0.001), and lung lesions (3.6%, p = 0.010; 6.3%, p = 0.001). This effect was most prominent in small lesions (SUV
max: 12.0%, p < 0.001, and CNR: 13.0%, p < 0.001). Similar or better image quality, lesion detectability, and diagnostic confidence was achieved in PRC images compared to the non-PRC images as those assessed by the expert readers. Conclusions: A tissue-independent PRC increased the SUV
max and CNR in soft tissue, bone, and lung lesions with a larger effect for the small lesions. Visual assessment demonstrated similar or better image quality, lesion detectability, and diagnostic confidence in PRC images compared to the non-PRC images.
AB - Purpose: The positron range effect can impair PET image quality of Gallium-68 (
68Ga). A positron range correction (PRC) can be applied to reduce this effect. In this study, the effect of a tissue-independent PRC for
68Ga was investigated on patient data. Methods: PET/CT data (40 patients: [
68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC or [
68Ga]Ga-PSMA) were reconstructed using Q.Clear reconstruction algorithm. Two reconstructions were performed per patient, Q.Clear with and without PRC. SUV
max and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) values per lesion were compared between PRC and non-PRC images. Five experienced nuclear medicine physicians reviewed the images and chose the preferred reconstruction based on the image quality, lesion detectability, and diagnostic confidence. Results: A total of 155 lesions were identified. The PRC resulted in statistically significant increase of the SUV
max and CNR for soft tissue lesions (6.4%, p < 0.001; 8.6%, p < 0.001), bone lesions (14.6%, p < 0.001; 12.5%, p < 0.001), and lung lesions (3.6%, p = 0.010; 6.3%, p = 0.001). This effect was most prominent in small lesions (SUV
max: 12.0%, p < 0.001, and CNR: 13.0%, p < 0.001). Similar or better image quality, lesion detectability, and diagnostic confidence was achieved in PRC images compared to the non-PRC images as those assessed by the expert readers. Conclusions: A tissue-independent PRC increased the SUV
max and CNR in soft tissue, bone, and lung lesions with a larger effect for the small lesions. Visual assessment demonstrated similar or better image quality, lesion detectability, and diagnostic confidence in PRC images compared to the non-PRC images.
KW - Positron Emission Tomography
KW - Gallium-68
KW - Positron Range
KW - Positron Range Correction
KW - GUIDELINE
U2 - 10.1007/s00259-024-07061-6
DO - 10.1007/s00259-024-07061-6
M3 - Article
SN - 1619-7070
JO - European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
JF - European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
M1 - 015014
ER -