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Open Access 29-01-2025 | Positron Emission Tomography | Original Article

Impact of tissue-independent positron range correction on [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC and [68Ga]Ga-PSMA PET image reconstructions: a patient data study

Authors: Prodromos Gavriilidis, Felix M. Mottaghy, Michel Koole, Tineke van de Weijer, Cristina Mitea, Jochem A. J. van der Pol, Thiemo J. A. van Nijnatten, Floris P. Jansen, Roel Wierts

Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

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Abstract

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. SUVmax 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 SUVmax 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 (SUVmax: 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 SUVmax 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.
Appendix
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Literature
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go back to reference Rukiah AL, Meikle SR, Gillam JE, Kench PL. An investigation of 68Ga positron range correction through de-blurring: A simulation study. 2018 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference Proceedings (NSS/MIC). Sydney, NSW, Australia: IEEE; 2018. p. 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1109/NSSMIC.2018.8824301. Rukiah AL, Meikle SR, Gillam JE, Kench PL. An investigation of 68Ga positron range correction through de-blurring: A simulation study. 2018 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference Proceedings (NSS/MIC). Sydney, NSW, Australia: IEEE; 2018. p. 1–2. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1109/​NSSMIC.​2018.​8824301.
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Metadata
Title
Impact of tissue-independent positron range correction on [68Ga]Ga-DOTATOC and [68Ga]Ga-PSMA PET image reconstructions: a patient data study
Authors
Prodromos Gavriilidis
Felix M. Mottaghy
Michel Koole
Tineke van de Weijer
Cristina Mitea
Jochem A. J. van der Pol
Thiemo J. A. van Nijnatten
Floris P. Jansen
Roel Wierts
Publication date
29-01-2025
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
Print ISSN: 1619-7070
Electronic ISSN: 1619-7089
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-024-07061-6