A Monte Carlo simulation study of the impact of novel scintillation crystals on performance characteristics of PET scanners

Ghabrial, A; Franklin, D; Zaidi, H

A Monte Carlo simulation study of the impact of novel scintillation crystals on performance characteristics of PET scanners

Ghabrial, A Franklin, D

Zaidi, H

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Physica Medica, 2018, 50 pp. 37 - 45
Issue Date:: 2018-06-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Ghabrial, A	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Franklin, D https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9563-5943	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Zaidi, H https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7559-5297	en_US
dc.date.available	2020-05-25T19:02:37Z
dc.date.issued	2018-06-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Physica Medica, 2018, 50 pp. 37 - 45	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1120-1797	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/125954
dc.description.abstract	© 2018 Associazione Italiana di Fisica Medica Objective: The purpose of this study is to validate a Monte Carlo simulation model for the clinical Siemens Biograph mCT PET scanner using the GATE simulation toolkit, and to evaluate the performance of six different scintillation materials in this model using the National Electrical Manufactures Association (NEMA) NU 2-2007 protocol. Methods: A model of the Biograph mCT PET detection system and its geometry was developed. NEMA NU 2-2007 phantoms were also modelled. The accuracy of the developed scanner model was validated through a comparison of the simulation results from GATE, SimSET and PeneloPET toolkits, and experimental data obtained using the NEMA NU 2-2007 protocols. The evaluated performance metrics included count rate performance, spatial resolution, sensitivity, and scatter fraction (SF). Thereafter, the mCT PET scanner was simulated with six different candidate high-performance scintillation materials, including LSO, LaBr3, CeBr3, LuAP, GLuGAG and LFS-3, and its performance evaluated according to the NEMA NU 2-2007 specifications. Results: The Monte Carlo simulation model demonstrates good agreement with the experimental data and results from other simulation packages. For instance, the scatter fraction calculated using GATE simulation is 34.35% while the experimentally measured value is 33.2%, 38.48% for the SimSET, and 34.8% for the PeneloPET toolkit. The best-performing scintillation materials were found to be LuAP, LSO and LFS-3, while GLuGAG offers acceptable performance if cost is the dominant concern. Conclusion: The main performance characteristics of the Biograph mCT PET scanner can be simulated accurately using GATE with a good agreement with other Monte Carlo simulation packages and experimental measurements. Newly developed scintillators show promise and offer alternative options for the design of novel generation PET scanners.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Physica Medica	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.ejmp.2018.05.010	en_US
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Positron-Emission Tomography	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Monte Carlo Method	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Computer Simulation	en_US
dc.title	A Monte Carlo simulation study of the impact of novel scintillation crystals on performance characteristics of PET scanners	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	50	en_US
utslib.for	0299 Other Physical Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	0699 Other Biological Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	1199 Other Medical and Health Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	02 Physical Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	06 Biological Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Electrical and Data Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CRIN - Realtime Information Networks
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	50	en_US

Abstract:

© 2018 Associazione Italiana di Fisica Medica Objective: The purpose of this study is to validate a Monte Carlo simulation model for the clinical Siemens Biograph mCT PET scanner using the GATE simulation toolkit, and to evaluate the performance of six different scintillation materials in this model using the National Electrical Manufactures Association (NEMA) NU 2-2007 protocol. Methods: A model of the Biograph mCT PET detection system and its geometry was developed. NEMA NU 2-2007 phantoms were also modelled. The accuracy of the developed scanner model was validated through a comparison of the simulation results from GATE, SimSET and PeneloPET toolkits, and experimental data obtained using the NEMA NU 2-2007 protocols. The evaluated performance metrics included count rate performance, spatial resolution, sensitivity, and scatter fraction (SF). Thereafter, the mCT PET scanner was simulated with six different candidate high-performance scintillation materials, including LSO, LaBr3, CeBr3, LuAP, GLuGAG and LFS-3, and its performance evaluated according to the NEMA NU 2-2007 specifications. Results: The Monte Carlo simulation model demonstrates good agreement with the experimental data and results from other simulation packages. For instance, the scatter fraction calculated using GATE simulation is 34.35% while the experimentally measured value is 33.2%, 38.48% for the SimSET, and 34.8% for the PeneloPET toolkit. The best-performing scintillation materials were found to be LuAP, LSO and LFS-3, while GLuGAG offers acceptable performance if cost is the dominant concern. Conclusion: The main performance characteristics of the Biograph mCT PET scanner can be simulated accurately using GATE with a good agreement with other Monte Carlo simulation packages and experimental measurements. Newly developed scintillators show promise and offer alternative options for the design of novel generation PET scanners.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/125954