Monte Carlo-based scatter correction for the SMARTZOOM collimator
Dietze, Martijn M A, Kunnen, Britt, Stella, Martina, de Jong, Hugo W A M
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40658-020-00318-7
EJNMMI Physics 7 (1),
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Myocardial perfusion imaging is a commonly performed SPECT protocol and hence it would be beneficial if its scan duration could be shortened. For traditional gamma cameras, two developments have separately shown to allow for a shortened scan duration: (i) reconstructing with Monte Carlo-based scatter correction instead of dual-energy window scatter correction and (ii) acquiring projections with the SMARTZOOM collimator instead of a parallel-hole collimator. This study investigates which reduction in scan duration can be achieved when both methods are combined in a single system.
RESULTS: The SMARTZOOM collimator was implemented in a Monte Carlo-based reconstruction package and the implementation was validated through image quality phantom experiments. The potential for scan duration reduction was evaluated with a phantom configuration that is realistic for myocardial perfusion imaging. The original reconstruction quality was achieved in 76 ± 8% of the original scan duration when switching from dual-energy window scatter correction to Monte Carlo-based scatter correction. The original reconstruction quality was achieved in 56 ± 13% of the original scan duration when switching from the parallel-hole to the SMARTZOOM collimator. After combining both methods in a single system, the original reconstruction quality was achieved in 34 ± 7% of the original scan duration.
CONCLUSIONS: Monte Carlo-based scatter correction combined with the SMARTZOOM collimator can further decrease the scan duration in myocardial perfusion imaging.