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Author Brzezinski, K.; Oliver, J.F.; Gillam, J.; Rafecas, M.; Studen, A.; Grkovski, M.; Kagan, H.; Smith, S.; Llosa, G.; Lacasta, C.; Clinthorne, N.H. doi  openurl
  Title Experimental evaluation of the resolution improvement provided by a silicon PET probe Type Journal Article
  Year (down) 2016 Publication Journal of Instrumentation Abbreviated Journal J. Instrum.  
  Volume 11 Issue Pages P09016 - 13pp  
  Keywords Gamma camera; SPECT; PET PET/CT; coronary CT angiography (CTA); Medical-image reconstruction methods and algorithms; computer-aided software  
  Abstract A high-resolution PET system, which incorporates a silicon detector probe into a conventional PET scanner, has been proposed to obtain increased image quality in a limited region of interest. Detailed simulation studies have previously shown that the additional probe information improves the spatial resolution of the reconstructed image and increases lesion detectability, with no cost to other image quality measures. The current study expands on the previous work by using a laboratory prototype of the silicon PET-probe system to examine the resolution improvement in an experimental setting. Two different versions of the probe prototype were assessed, both consisting of a back-to-back pair of 1-mm thick silicon pad detectors, one arranged in 32 x 16 arrays of 1.4mm x 1.4mm pixels and the other in 40 x 26 arrays of 1.0mm x 1.0mm pixels. Each detector was read out by a set of VATAGP7 ASICs and a custom-designed data acquisition board which allowed trigger and data interfacing with the PET scanner, itself consisting of BGO block detectors segmented into 8 x 6 arrays of 6mm x 12mm x 30mm crystals. Limited-angle probe data was acquired from a group of Na-22 point-like sources in order to observe the maximum resolution achievable using the probe system. Data from a Derenzo-like resolution phantom was acquired, then scaled to obtain similar statistical quality as that of previous simulation studies. In this case, images were reconstructed using measurements of the PET ring alone and with the inclusion of the probe data. Images of the Na-22 source demonstrated a resolution of 1.5mm FWHM in the probe data, the PET ring resolution being approximately 6 mm. Profiles taken through the image of the Derenzo-like phantom showed a clear increase in spatial resolution. Improvements in peak-to-valley ratios of 50% and 38%, in the 4.8mm and 4.0mm phantom features respectively, were observed, while previously unresolvable 3.2mm features were brought to light by the addition of the probe. These results support the possibility of improving the image resolution of a clinical PET scanner using the silicon PET-probe.  
  Address [Brzezinski, K.; Oliver, J. F.; Gillam, J.; Rafecas, M.; Llosa, G.; Lacasta, C.] Univ Valencia, CSIC, Inst Fis Corpuscular, C Catedrat Jose Beltran 2, Valencia, Spain, Email: k.w.brzezinski@rug.nl  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Iop Publishing Ltd Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1748-0221 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000387862300016 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 2865  
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Author Gomez-Cadenas, J.J.; Benlloch-Rodriguez, J.M.; Ferrario, P.; Monrabal, F.; Rodriguez, J.; Toledo, J.F. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Investigation of the coincidence resolving time performance of a PET scanner based on liquid xenon: a Monte Carlo study Type Journal Article
  Year (down) 2016 Publication Journal of Instrumentation Abbreviated Journal J. Instrum.  
  Volume 11 Issue Pages P09011 - 18pp  
  Keywords Gamma camera; SPECT; PET PET/CT; coronary CT angiography (CTA); Instrumentation and methods for time-of-flight (TOF) spectroscopy; Noble liquid detectors (scintillation ionization, double-phase); Scintillators; scintillation and light emission processes (solid, gas and liquid scintillators)  
  Abstract The measurement of the time of flight of the two 511 keV gammas recorded in coincidence in a PET scanner provides an effective way of reducing the random background and therefore increases the scanner sensitivity, provided that the coincidence resolving time (CRT) of the gammas is sufficiently good. The best commercial PET-TOF system today (based in LYSO crystals and digital SiPMs), is the VEREOS of Philips, boasting a CRT of 316 ps (FWHM). In this paper we present a Monte Carlo investigation of the CRT performance of a PET scanner exploiting the scintillating properties of liquid xenon. We find that an excellent CRT of 70 ps (depending on the PDE of the sensor) can be obtained if the scanner is instrumented with silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) sensitive to the ultraviolet light emitted by xenon. Alternatively, a CRT of 160 ps can be obtained instrumenting the scanner with (much cheaper) blue-sensitive SiPMs coated with a suitable wavelength shifter. These results show the excellent time of flight capabilities of a PET device based in liquid xenon.  
  Address [Gomez-Cadenas, J. J.; Benlloch-Rodriguez, J. M.; Ferrario, P.; Rodriguez, J.] CSIC, Inst Fis Corpuscular IFIC, Calle Catedrat Jose Beltran 2, Valencia 46980, Spain, Email: paola.ferrario@ific.uv.es  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Iop Publishing Ltd Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1748-0221 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000387862300011 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 2866  
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Author Cabello, J.; Etxebeste, A.; Llosa, G.; Ziegler, S.I. doi  openurl
  Title Simulation study of PET detector limitations using continuous crystals Type Journal Article
  Year (down) 2015 Publication Physics in Medicine and Biology Abbreviated Journal Phys. Med. Biol.  
  Volume 60 Issue 9 Pages 3673-3694  
  Keywords continuous crystals; parallax effects; depth of interaction; high resolution; small animal PET  
  Abstract Continuous crystals can potentially obtain better intrinsic detector spatial resolution compared to pixelated crystals, additionally providing depth of interaction (DoI) information from the light distribution. To achieve high performance sophisticated interaction position estimation algorithms are required. There are a number of algorithms in the literature applied to different crystal dimensions and different photodetectors. However, the different crystal properties and photodetector array geometries have an impact on the algorithm performance. In this work we analysed, through Monte Carlo simulations, different combinations of realistic crystals and photodetector parameters to better understand their influence on the interaction position estimation accuracy, with special emphasis on the DoI. We used an interaction position estimation based on an analytical model for the present work. Different photodetector granulation schemes were investigated. The impact of the number of crystal faces readout by photodetectors was studied by simulating scenarios with one and two photodetectors. In addition, crystals with different levels of reflection and aspect ratios (AR) were analysed. Results showed that the impact of photodetector granularity is mainly shown near the edges and specially in the corners of the crystal. The resulting intrinsic spatial resolution near the centre with a 12 x 12 x 10 mm(3) LYSO crystal was 0.7-0.9 mm, while the average spatial resolution calculated on the entire crystal was 0.77 +/- 0.18 mm for all the simulated geometries with one and two photodetectors. Having front and back photodetectors reduced the DoI bias (Euclidean distance between estimated DoI and real DoI) and improved the transversal resolution near the corners. In scenarios with one photodetector, small AR resulted in DoI inaccuracies for absorbed events at the entrance of the crystal. These inaccuracies were slightly reduced either by increasing the AR or reducing the amount of reflected light, and highly mitigated using two photodetectors. Using one photodetector, we obtained a piecewise DoI error model with a DoI resolution of 0.4-0.9 mm for a 1.2 AR crystal, and we observed that including a second photodetector or reducing the amount of reflections reduced the DoI bias but did not significantly improve the DoI resolution. Translating the piecewise DoI error model obtained in this study to image reconstruction we obtained a spatial resolution variability of 0.39 mm using 85% of the FoV, compared to 2.59 mm and 1.87 mm without DoI correction or with a dual layer system, respectively.  
  Address [Cabello, Jorge; Ziegler, Sibylle I.] Tech Univ Munich, Klinikum Rechts Isar, Nukl Med Klin & Poliklin, D-80290 Munich, Germany, Email: jorge.cabello@tum.de  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Iop Publishing Ltd Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0031-9155 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000354104700019 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 2226  
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Author Torres-Espallardo, I.; Diblen, F.; Rohling, H.; Solevi, P.; Gillam, J.; Watts, D.; Espana, S.; Vandenberghe, S.; Fiedler, F.; Rafecas, M. doi  openurl
  Title Evaluation of resistive-plate-chamber-based TOF-PET applied to in-beam particle therapy monitoring Type Journal Article
  Year (down) 2015 Publication Physics in Medicine and Biology Abbreviated Journal Phys. Med. Biol.  
  Volume 60 Issue 9 Pages N187-N208  
  Keywords PET; in-beam; RPC; particle therapy; TOF; range deviation; partial-ring  
  Abstract Particle therapy is a highly conformal radiotherapy technique which reduces the dose deposited to the surrounding normal tissues. In order to fully exploit its advantages, treatment monitoring is necessary to minimize uncertainties related to the dose delivery. Up to now, the only clinically feasible technique for the monitoring of therapeutic irradiation with particle beams is Positron Emission Tomography (PET). In this work we have compared a Resistive Plate Chamber (RPC)-based PET scanner with a scintillation-crystal-based PET scanner for this application. In general, the main advantages of the RPC-PET system are its excellent timing resolution, low cost, and the possibility of building large area systems. We simulated a partial-ring scannerbeam monitoring, which has an intrinsically low positron yield compared to diagnostic PET. In addition, for in-beam PET there is a further data loss due to the partial ring configuration. In order to improve the performance of the RPC-based scanner, an improved version of the RPC detector (modifying the thickness of the gas and glass layers), providing a larger sensitivity, has been simulated and compared with an axially extended version of the crystal-based device. The improved version of the RPC shows better performance than the prototype, but the extended version of the crystal-based PET outperforms all other options. based on an RPC prototype under construction within the Fondazione per Adroterapia Oncologica (TERA). For comparison with the crystal-based PET scanner we have chosen the geometry of a commercially available PET scanner, the Philips Gemini TF. The coincidence time resolution used in the simulations takes into account the current achievable values as well as expected improvements of both technologies. Several scenarios (including patient data) have been simulated to evaluate the performance of different scanners. Initial results have shown that the low sensitivity of the RPC hampers its application to hadron  
  Address [Torres-Espallardo, I.; Solevi, P.; Gillam, J.; Rafecas, M.] UV, CSIC, Inst Fis Corpuscular IFIC, E-46071 Valencia, Spain, Email: irene.torres@uv.es  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Iop Publishing Ltd Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0031-9155 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000354104700003 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 2227  
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Author Grkovski, M.; Brzezinski, K.; Cindro, V.; Clinthorne, N.H.; Kagan, H.; Lacasta, C.; Mikuz, M.; Solaz, C.; Studen, A.; Weilhammer, P.; Zontar, D. doi  openurl
  Title Evaluation of a high resolution silicon PET insert module Type Journal Article
  Year (down) 2015 Publication Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research A Abbreviated Journal Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A  
  Volume 788 Issue Pages 86-94  
  Keywords Positron emission tomography; Silicon detectors; PET insert; Image reconstruction  
  Abstract Conventional PET systems can be augmented with additional detectors placed in close proximity of the region of interest. We developed a high resolution PET insert module to evaluate the added benefit of such a combination. The insert module consists of two back-to-back 1 mm thick silicon sensors, each segmented into 1040 1 mm(2) pads arranged in a 40 by 26 array. A set of 16 VATAGP7.1 ASICs and a custom assembled data acquisition board were used to read out the signal from the insert module. Data were acquired in slice (20) geometry with a Jaszczak phantom (rod diameters of 12-4.8 mm) Filled with F-18-FDG and the images were reconstructed with ML-EM method. Both data with full and limited angular coverage from the insert module were considered and three types of coincidence events were combined. The ratio of high-resolution data that substantially improves quality of the reconstructed image for the region near the surface of the insert module was estimated to be about 4%. Results from our previous studies suggest that such ratio could be achieved at a moderate technological expense by using an equivalent of two insert modules (an effective sensor thickness of 4 mm).  
  Address [Grkovski, Milan; Cindro, Vladimir; Mikuz, Marko; Studen, Andrej; Zontar, Dejan] Jozef Stefan Inst, Ljubljana, Slovenia, Email: milan.grkovski@ijs.si  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Elsevier Science Bv Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0168-9002 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000354870700016 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 2232  
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Author Llosa, G. doi  openurl
  Title Recent developments in photodetection for medical applications Type Journal Article
  Year (down) 2015 Publication Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research A Abbreviated Journal Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A  
  Volume 787 Issue Pages 353-357  
  Keywords Detectors; Photodetectors; Medical applications; PET; SPECT; Hadron Therapy  
  Abstract The use of the most advanced technology in medical imaging results in the development of high performance detectors that can significantly improve the performance of the medical devices employed in hospitals. Scintillator crystals coupled to photodetectors remain to be essential detectors in terms of performance and cost for medical imaging applications in different imaging modalities. Recent advances in photodetectors result in an increase of the performance of the medical scanners. Solid state detectors can provide substantial performance improvement, but are more complex to integrate into clinical detectors due mainly to their higher cost. Solid state photodetectors (APDs, SiPMs) have made new detector concepts possible and have led to improvements in different imaging modalities. Recent advances in detectors for medical imaging are revised.  
  Address UVEG, CSIC, Inst Fis Corpuscular, Valencia, Spain, Email: gabriela.llosa@ific.uv.es  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Elsevier Science Bv Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0168-9002 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000354869900079 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration no  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 2233  
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Author Koolen, B.B.; Vidal-Sicart, S.; Benlloch, J.M.; Olmos, R.A.V. doi  openurl
  Title Evaluating heterogeneity of primary tumor 18 F-FDG uptake in breast cancer with a dedicated breast PET ( MAMMI): a feasibility study based on correlation with PET/CT Type Journal Article
  Year (down) 2014 Publication Nuclear Medicine Communications Abbreviated Journal Nucl. Med. Commun.  
  Volume 35 Issue 5 Pages 446-452  
  Keywords breast cancer; F-18-FDG; heterogeneity; MAMMI; PET  
  Abstract PurposeThe aim of the study was to evaluate the heterogeneity of primary tumor F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18-FDG) uptake in breast cancer patients using a dedicated breast PET.Patients and methodsA positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) of the thorax was performed 60 min after administration of 180-240 MBq of F-18-FDG in patients with breast cancer. Subsequently, 110 min after injection, a scan was taken with a dedicated high-resolution breast PET [MAMmography with Molecular Imaging (MAMMI)]. Both procedures were performed with the patients in the prone position. Four-point scores were used to compare the intensity (0: none; 1: mild; 2: moderate; 3: high) and heterogeneity (0: none; 1: mild; 2: moderate; 3: high) of F-18-FDG uptake between PET/CT and MAMMI images.ResultsThirty-five patients in whom the primary tumor was visualized on both scans were included in this analysis. The mean primary tumor size was 35.1 mm (range 10-108 mm). The mean intensity score was similar on both devices (2.4 for PET/CT and 2.3 for MAMMI; P=0.439), but the mean heterogeneity score on MAMMI images was significantly higher (PET/CT 1.9 vs. MAMMI 2.3; P=0.005). MAMMI showed a higher heterogeneity score in 11 (31%) of 35 patients, especially in tumors with moderate or high intensity. Significantly higher heterogeneity scores on both PET/CT and MAMMI were seen in large tumors (P=0.005 and 0.014, respectively) and in tumors with high intensity scores (P=0.012 and P<0.001, respectively).ConclusionHeterogeneous tumor F-18-FDG uptake in breast cancer is frequently observed, particularly in large tumors with intense F-18-FDG uptake. It is more often seen on MAMMI PET than on conventional PET/CT. Although the observed heterogeneity should be proven histopathologically, this finding offers a rationale for F-18-FDG-guided biopsies.  
  Address [Koolen, Bas B.; Vidal-Sicart, Sergi; Olmos, Renato A. Valdes] Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hosp, Netherlands Canc Inst, Dept Nucl Med, NL-1066 CX Amsterdam, Netherlands, Email: b.koolen@nki.nl  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0143-3636 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000334103800002 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 1763  
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Author Ros, A.; Lerche, C.W.; Sebastia, A.; Sanchez, F.; Benlloch, J.M. doi  openurl
  Title Retroreflector arrays for better light collection efficiency of gamma-ray imaging detectors with continuous scintillation crystals without DOI misestimation Type Journal Article
  Year (down) 2014 Publication Journal of Instrumentation Abbreviated Journal J. Instrum.  
  Volume 9 Issue Pages P04009 - 14pp  
  Keywords Gamma detectors (scintillators, CZT, HPG, HgI etc); Interaction of radiation with matter; Gamma camera, SPECT, PET PET/CT, coronary CT angiography (CTA); Detector design and construction technologies and materials  
  Abstract A method to improve light collection efficiency of gamma-ray imaging detectors by using retroreflector arrays has been tested, simulations of the behaviour of the scintillation light illuminating the retroreflector surface have been made. Measurements including retroreflector arrays in the setup have also been taken. For the measurements, positron emission tomography (PET) detectors with continuous scintillation crystals have been used. Each detector module consists of a continuous LSO-scintillator of dimensions 49x49x10 mm(3) and a H8500 position-sensitive photo-multiplier (PSPMT) from Hamamatsu. By using a continuous scintillation crystal, the scintillation light distribution has not been destroyed and the energy, the centroids along the x- and y-direction and the depth of interaction (DOI) can be estimated. Simulations have also been run taking into account the use of continuous scintillation crystals. Due to the geometry of the continuous scintillation crystals in comparison with pixelated crystals, a good light collection efficiency is necessary to correctly reconstruct the impact point of the gamma-ray. The aim of this study is to investigate whether micro-machine retro-reflectors improve light yield without misestimation of the impact point. The results shows an improvement on the energy and centroid resolutions without worsening the depth of interaction resolution. Therefore it can be concluded that using retroreflector arrays at the entrance side of the scintillation crystal improves light collection efficiency without worsening the impact point estimation.  
  Address [Ros, A.] Inst Fis Corpuscular IFIC, Valencia 46980, Spain, Email: anrogar2@i3m.upv.es  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Iop Publishing Ltd Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1748-0221 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000336123800049 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration no  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 1798  
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Author Gillam, J.E.; Solevi, P.; Oliver, J.F.; Casella, C.; Heller, M.; Joram, C.; Rafecas, M. doi  openurl
  Title Sensitivity recovery for the AX-PET prototype using inter-crystal scattering events Type Journal Article
  Year (down) 2014 Publication Physics in Medicine and Biology Abbreviated Journal Phys. Med. Biol.  
  Volume 59 Issue 15 Pages 4065-4083  
  Keywords positron emission tomography (PET); inter-crystal scattering; sensitivity  
  Abstract The development of novel detection devices and systems such as the AX-positron emission tomography (PET) demonstrator often introduce or increase the measurement of atypical coincidence events such as inter-crystal scattering (ICS). In more standard systems, ICS events often go undetected and the small measured fraction may be ignored. As the measured quantity of such events in the data increases, so too does the importance of considering them during image reconstruction. Generally, treatment of ICS events will attempt to determine which of the possible candidate lines of response (LoRs) correctly determine the annihilation photon trajectory. However, methods of assessment often have low success rates or are computationally demanding. In this investigation alternative approaches are considered. Experimental data was taken using the AX-PET prototype and a NEMA phantom. Three methods of ICS treatment were assessed-each of which considered all possible candidate LoRs during image reconstruction. Maximum likelihood expectation maximization was used in conjunction with both standard (line-like) and novel (V-like in this investigation) detection responses modeled within the system matrix. The investigation assumed that no information other than interaction locations was available to distinguish between candidates, yet the methods assessed all provided means by which such information could be included. In all cases it was shown that the signal to noise ratio is increased using ICS events. However, only one method, which used full modeling of the ICS response in the system matrix-the V-like model-provided enhancement in all figures of merit assessed in this investigation. Finally, the optimal method of ICS incorporation was demonstrated using data from two small animals measured using the AX-PET demonstrator.  
  Address [Gillam, John E.; Solevi, Paola; Oliver, Josep F.; Rafecas, Magdalena] Univ Valencia, CSIC, IFIC, Valencia, Spain, Email: john.gillam@sydney.edu.au  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Iop Publishing Ltd Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0031-9155 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000340056800006 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 1879  
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Author Brzezinski, K.; Oliver, J.F.; Gillam, J.; Rafecas, M. doi  openurl
  Title Study of a high-resolution PET system using a Silicon detector probe Type Journal Article
  Year (down) 2014 Publication Physics in Medicine and Biology Abbreviated Journal Phys. Med. Biol.  
  Volume 59 Issue 20 Pages 6117-6140  
  Keywords PET; high-resolution imaging; Si detectors; PET insert  
  Abstract A high-resolution silicon detector probe, in coincidence with a conventional PET scanner, is expected to provide images of higher quality than those achievable using the scanner alone. Spatial resolution should improve due to the finer pixelization of the probe detector, while increased sensitivity in the probe vicinity is expected to decrease noise. A PET-probe prototype is being developed utilizing this principle. The system includes a probe consisting of ten layers of silicon detectors, each a 80 x 52 array of 1 x 1 x 1 mm(3) pixels, to be operated in coincidence with a modern clinical PET scanner. Detailed simulation studies of this system have been performed to assess the effect of the additional probe information on the quality of the reconstructed images. A grid of point sources was simulated to study the contribution of the probe to the system resolution at different locations over the field of view (FOV). A resolution phantom was used to demonstrate the effect on image resolution for two probe positions. A homogeneous source distribution with hot and cold regions was used to demonstrate that the localized improvement in resolution does not come at the expense of the overall quality of the image. Since the improvement is constrained to an area close to the probe, breast imaging is proposed as a potential application for the novel geometry. In this sense, a simplified breast phantom, adjacent to heart and torso compartments, was simulated and the effect of the probe on lesion detectability, through measurements of the local contrast recovery coefficient-to-noise ratio (CNR), was observed. The list-mode ML-EM algorithm was used for image reconstruction in all cases. As expected, the point spread function of the PET-probe system was found to be non-isotropic and vary with position, offering improvement in specific regions. Increase in resolution, of factors of up to 2, was observed in the region close to the probe. Images of the resolution phantom showed visible improvement in resolution when including the probe in the simulations. The image quality study demonstrated that contrast and spill-over ratio in other areas of the FOV were not sacrificed for this enhancement. The CNR study performed on the breast phantom indicates increased lesion detectability provided by the probe.  
  Address [Brzezinski, K.; Oliver, J. F.; Gillam, J.; Rafecas, M.] Univ Valencia, CSIC, Inst Fis Corpuscular, E-46980 Valencia, Spain, Email: brzezinski@ific.uv.es  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Iop Publishing Ltd Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0031-9155 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000343092300011 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 1963  
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