Towards accurate partial volume correction in 99mTc oncology SPECT: perturbation for case-specific resolution estimation
Abstract Background Currently, there is no consensus on the optimal partial volume correction (PVC) algorithm for oncology imaging. Several existing PVC methods require knowledge of the reconstructed resolution, usually as the point spread function (PSF)—often assumed to be spatially invariant. Howe...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2022-09-01
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| Series: | EJNMMI Physics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40658-022-00489-5 |
| _version_ | 1811211638990176256 |
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| author | Rebecca Gillen Kjell Erlandsson Ana M. Denis-Bacelar Kris Thielemans Brian F. Hutton Sarah J. McQuaid |
| author_facet | Rebecca Gillen Kjell Erlandsson Ana M. Denis-Bacelar Kris Thielemans Brian F. Hutton Sarah J. McQuaid |
| author_sort | Rebecca Gillen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Currently, there is no consensus on the optimal partial volume correction (PVC) algorithm for oncology imaging. Several existing PVC methods require knowledge of the reconstructed resolution, usually as the point spread function (PSF)—often assumed to be spatially invariant. However, this is not the case for SPECT imaging. This work aimed to assess the accuracy of SPECT quantification when PVC is applied using a case-specific PSF. Methods Simulations of SPECT $$^{99{\mathrm{m}}}$$ 99 m Tc imaging were performed for a range of activity distributions, including those replicating typical clinical oncology studies. Gaussian PSFs in reconstructed images were estimated using perturbation with a small point source. Estimates of the PSF were made in situations which could be encountered in a patient study, including; different positions in the field of view, different lesion shapes, sizes and contrasts, noise-free and noisy data. Ground truth images were convolved with the perturbation-estimated PSF, and with a PSF reflecting the resolution at the centre of the field of view. Both were compared with reconstructed images and the root-mean-square error calculated to assess the accuracy of the estimated PSF. PVC was applied using Single Target Correction, incorporating the perturbation-estimated PSF. Corrected regional mean values were assessed for quantitative accuracy. Results Perturbation-estimated PSF values demonstrated dependence on the position in the Field of View and the number of OSEM iterations. A lower root mean squared error was observed when convolution of the ground truth image was performed with the perturbation-estimated PSF, compared with convolution using a different PSF. Regional mean values following PVC using the perturbation-estimated PSF were more accurate than uncorrected data, or data corrected with PVC using an unsuitable PSF. This was the case for both simple and anthropomorphic phantoms. For the simple phantom, regional mean values were within 0.7% of the ground truth values. Accuracy improved after 5 or more OSEM iterations (10 subsets). For the anthropomorphic phantoms, post-correction regional mean values were within 1.6% of the ground truth values for noise-free uniform lesions. Conclusion Perturbation using a simulated point source could potentially improve quantitative SPECT accuracy via the application of PVC, provided that sufficient reconstruction iterations are used. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T05:16:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-acc08dabf11d4315a9b15086c1d637cd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2197-7364 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T05:16:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | EJNMMI Physics |
| spelling | doaj.art-acc08dabf11d4315a9b15086c1d637cd2022-12-22T03:46:37ZengSpringerOpenEJNMMI Physics2197-73642022-09-019112210.1186/s40658-022-00489-5Towards accurate partial volume correction in 99mTc oncology SPECT: perturbation for case-specific resolution estimationRebecca Gillen0Kjell Erlandsson1Ana M. Denis-Bacelar2Kris Thielemans3Brian F. Hutton4Sarah J. McQuaid5Institute of Nuclear Medicine, University College LondonInstitute of Nuclear Medicine, University College LondonNational Physical LaboratoryInstitute of Nuclear Medicine, University College LondonInstitute of Nuclear Medicine, University College LondonInstitute of Nuclear Medicine, University College LondonAbstract Background Currently, there is no consensus on the optimal partial volume correction (PVC) algorithm for oncology imaging. Several existing PVC methods require knowledge of the reconstructed resolution, usually as the point spread function (PSF)—often assumed to be spatially invariant. However, this is not the case for SPECT imaging. This work aimed to assess the accuracy of SPECT quantification when PVC is applied using a case-specific PSF. Methods Simulations of SPECT $$^{99{\mathrm{m}}}$$ 99 m Tc imaging were performed for a range of activity distributions, including those replicating typical clinical oncology studies. Gaussian PSFs in reconstructed images were estimated using perturbation with a small point source. Estimates of the PSF were made in situations which could be encountered in a patient study, including; different positions in the field of view, different lesion shapes, sizes and contrasts, noise-free and noisy data. Ground truth images were convolved with the perturbation-estimated PSF, and with a PSF reflecting the resolution at the centre of the field of view. Both were compared with reconstructed images and the root-mean-square error calculated to assess the accuracy of the estimated PSF. PVC was applied using Single Target Correction, incorporating the perturbation-estimated PSF. Corrected regional mean values were assessed for quantitative accuracy. Results Perturbation-estimated PSF values demonstrated dependence on the position in the Field of View and the number of OSEM iterations. A lower root mean squared error was observed when convolution of the ground truth image was performed with the perturbation-estimated PSF, compared with convolution using a different PSF. Regional mean values following PVC using the perturbation-estimated PSF were more accurate than uncorrected data, or data corrected with PVC using an unsuitable PSF. This was the case for both simple and anthropomorphic phantoms. For the simple phantom, regional mean values were within 0.7% of the ground truth values. Accuracy improved after 5 or more OSEM iterations (10 subsets). For the anthropomorphic phantoms, post-correction regional mean values were within 1.6% of the ground truth values for noise-free uniform lesions. Conclusion Perturbation using a simulated point source could potentially improve quantitative SPECT accuracy via the application of PVC, provided that sufficient reconstruction iterations are used.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40658-022-00489-5PerturbationSPECTQuantificationPartial volume correction |
| spellingShingle | Rebecca Gillen Kjell Erlandsson Ana M. Denis-Bacelar Kris Thielemans Brian F. Hutton Sarah J. McQuaid Towards accurate partial volume correction in 99mTc oncology SPECT: perturbation for case-specific resolution estimation EJNMMI Physics Perturbation SPECT Quantification Partial volume correction |
| title | Towards accurate partial volume correction in 99mTc oncology SPECT: perturbation for case-specific resolution estimation |
| title_full | Towards accurate partial volume correction in 99mTc oncology SPECT: perturbation for case-specific resolution estimation |
| title_fullStr | Towards accurate partial volume correction in 99mTc oncology SPECT: perturbation for case-specific resolution estimation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Towards accurate partial volume correction in 99mTc oncology SPECT: perturbation for case-specific resolution estimation |
| title_short | Towards accurate partial volume correction in 99mTc oncology SPECT: perturbation for case-specific resolution estimation |
| title_sort | towards accurate partial volume correction in 99mtc oncology spect perturbation for case specific resolution estimation |
| topic | Perturbation SPECT Quantification Partial volume correction |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40658-022-00489-5 |
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