A comparative study of scatter correction methods for scintigraphic images

Abstract

Phantom studies have demonstrated that factor analysis of medical image sequences using target apex-seeking (FAMIS-TAS) applied to spectral scintigraphic image sequences is an efficient adaptive scatter correction method. We assessed the improvement in quality of clinical images using FAMIS-TAS as compared with two other scatter correction techniques: conventional 20% photopeak window (PW) and scatter window subtraction (SWS). Thirty normal technetium-99m hydroxymethylene diphosphonate bone scans were processed. Bone to soft tissue contrasts and signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios were measured. The overall image quality was evaluated using an observer testing questionnaire submitted to four physicians. Quantitative parameters showed that FAMIS-TAS images displayed the best bone to soft tissue contrasts and contrast-to-noise ratios, but the lowest signal-to-noise ratios. PW images presented the lowest contrasts and contrast-to-noise ratios, and the highest signal-to-noise ratios. SWS gave intermediate results. According to the observer testing results, PW images showed the lowest bone to soft tissue contrasts and the highest signal-to-noise ratios. FAMIS-TAS images showed the lowest signal-to-noise ratios. The images processed by the three methods displayed the same anatomical information.

Effect of Dual and Triple Energy Window Scatter Correction Methods on Image Quality in Liver Scintigraphy

“…The various techniques for Compton scatter correction have been evaluated and compared by many investigators using Monte Carlo simulation methods and mathematical or physical phantoms (4, 11-13, 16,18). However, few clinical studies have been performed to test the value of these methods under realistic conditions (1,5,8). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the dual-energy window (DEW) and the triple-energy window (TEW) Compton scatter correction methods on image quality parameters and on observer's ability to identify cold lesions in hepatic planar and SPECT imaging.…”

The impact of different bone tracers and acquisition times on image quality of equine bone scintigraphy

“…[18][19][20] The chemical structures of HDP and MDP are very similar (only differing regarding the substituents at the methylene bridge), while DPD has a quite different lateral chain on the carbon atom. 4,14 The pharmacological features, such as whole body retention (i.e., accumulation of tracers in the circulatory system or within tissues) and urinary excretion of different diphosphonates are crucial factors of image quality. 18 The higher whole-body retention indicates greater exposure of the bone to the 99m Tc-diphosphonates and thus possibly greater uptake.…”

“…The modified semiquantitative analysis method provides the maximum (max) and minimum (min) counts per pixel as well as the mean (m) and the variance (v) of the number of counts detected in the ROI. These data were used to calculate the following semiquantitative parameters of the image quality using a modified technique from a previously described method by Bonnin et al 14 Image Signal − noise ratio (SNR) = m∕v 0.5…”

Where are we with nuclear medicine in pediatrics?

“…This produces a truer picture of source distribution of activity by compensating for nonuniform attenuation [22][23][24][25][26]. Methods for scatter reduction can also improve image resolution in the pediatric patient [27]. Several equipment manufacturers offer modifications which will electronically filter Compton scatter [28][29][30][31][32].…”