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Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
Published in: Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 4/2018

01-08-2018 | Original Article

Capabilities of the Monte Carlo Simulation Codes for Modeling of a Small Animal SPECT Camera

Authors: Alireza Sadremomtaz, Zeinab Telikani

Published in: Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Issue 4/2018

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to compare Monte Carlo-based codes’ characteristics in the determination of the basic parameters of a high-resolution single photon emission computed tomography (HiReSPECT) scanner.

Methods

The geometry of this dual-head gamma camera equipped with a pixelated CsI(Na) scintillator and lead hexagonal hole collimator were accurately described in the GEANT4 Application for the Tomographic Emission (GATE), Monte Carlo N-particle extended (MCNP-X), and simulation of imaging nuclear detectors (SIMIND) codes. We implemented simulation procedures similar to the experimental test for calculation of the energy spectra, spatial resolution, and sensitivity of HiReSPECT by using 99mTc sources.

Results

The energy resolutions simulated by SIMIND, MCNP-X, and GATE were 17.53, 19.24, and 18.26%, respectively, while it was calculated at 19.15% in experimental test. The average spatial resolutions of the HiReSPECT camera at 2.5 cm from the collimator surface simulated by SIMIND, MCNP-X, and GATE were 3.18, 2.9, and 2.62 mm, respectively, while this parameter was reported at 2.82 mm in the experiment test. The sensitivities simulated by SIMIND, MCNP-X, and GATE were 1.44, 1.27, and 1.38 cps/μCi, respectively, on the collimator surface.

Conclusions

Comparison between simulation and experimental results showed that among these MC codes, GATE enabled to accurately model realistic SPECT system and electromagnetic physical processes, but it required more time and hardware facilities to run simulations. SIMIND was the most flexible and user-friendly code to simulate a SPECT camera, but it had limitations in defining the non-conventional imaging device. The most important characteristics like time and speed of simulation, preciseness of results, and user-friendliness should be considered during simulations.
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Metadata
Title
Capabilities of the Monte Carlo Simulation Codes for Modeling of a Small Animal SPECT Camera
Authors
Alireza Sadremomtaz
Zeinab Telikani
Publication date
01-08-2018
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging / Issue 4/2018
Print ISSN: 1869-3474
Electronic ISSN: 1869-3482
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13139-018-0530-0

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