5 – PET and CT Acceptance Testing and Commissioning Objective

Sub-module 5.5 – PET and CT Acceptance Testing and Commissioning Objective

Be able to demonstrate familiarity with the processes involved in acceptance testing of PET/CT.

Prerequisite

Familiarity with basic principle of the PET /CT function and operation An understanding of NEMA procedures for PET acceptance testing

Competencies Addressed

Ability to perform

(a) PET acceptance testing and commissioning (b) SUV calibration and check SUV calibration accuracy

• Standards for PET system acceptance testing such as NEMA NU 2-

• Manufacturer specifications of system performance • Interpretation of acceptance test results • Criteria for acceptable performance • Appropriate action if equipment fails acceptance testing • Basic understanding of CT acceptance test.

• Prepare a report comparing the various technologies used for PET

Recommended

coincidence imaging for whole body PET studies.

Elements of

• The comparison should include the following technologies:

Training

o Gamma camera based coincidence system o GSO, LySO PET systems (e.g. Philips Gemini) o BGO based systems (e.g. GE Discovery Series) o LSO (e.g. Siemens Biograph,) o PET scanners vs. PET/CT hybrid scanners

• Perform PET acceptance test according to the NEMA Nu-2 2007 • The following aspects of performance should be covered

o Count rate performance o Spatial Resolution o Corrections applied and quantitative accuracy o 3D vs. 2D acquisitions in terms of sensitivity, injected activity

and effect of activity outside field of view. o Relative merits of CT vs. non-CT based attenuation correction

o Appropriate NEMA standard to evaluate performance for whole

body studies (NEMA 2001) o Activity injected into patient and uptake period

o Throughput of studies and relative cost of systems • Observe the acceptance test of CT.

• The SUV is a quantitative index and hence requires activity concentration in the patient to be estimated in absolute terms with the PET scan.

o Describe each of the corrections and calibrations which have to

be performed to achieve quantitative values o How does this impact on the routine QC of the PET scanner

o Design and describe an experiment to verify that the PET scanner provides accurate activity concentration values and all

corrections and calibrations are appropriately applied.

Knowledge

[1] FAHEY, F.H., Data acquisition in PET imaging, J Nucl Med

Sources

Technol 30 2 (2002) 39-49.

[2] INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, Quality Assurance for PET and PET/CT Systems, Human Health Series No.

1, IAEA, Vienna (2009). http://www- pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/Pub1393_web.pdf. [3]

NATIONAL ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION, NEMA Standards Publication NU-2-2007 Performance Measurements of Positron Emission Tomographs (2007).

[4] VALK, P.E., BAILEY, D.L., TOWNSEND, D.W., MAISEY, M.N., Positron Emission Tomography. Basic Science and Clinical Practice, Springer (2003).

[5] ImPACT website (www.impactscan.org)

MODULE 6 - RADIOACTIVITY MEASUREMENTS AND INTERNAL DOSIMETRY

Objective

To provide the resident with clinical knowledge and skills to measure radioactivity and perform internal dosimetry calculations.

Expected

10% of overall time

Duration Sub-Modules

6.1 Use of traceable standards for radioactivity measurements

6.2 Formalism and application of internal dosimetry

6.3 Absorbed dose from diagnostic nuclear medicine radiopharmaceuticals

6.4 Quantitative nuclear medicine imaging

6.5 Patient-specific dosimetry

[1] CHERRY, S.R., SORENSON, J.A., PHELPS, M.E., Physics in

Core Reading

Nuclear Medicine, 3rd edn, WB Saunders, Philadelphia (2003). [2]

KNOLL, G.F., Radiation Detection and Measurement, 3rd edn, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1999).

[3] INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON RADIATION UNITS AND MEASUREMENTS, Absorbed-dose specification in Nuclear Medicine, ICRU Rep. 67, Bethesda, MD (2002).

MIRD pamphlets http://interactive.snm.org/index.cfm?PageID=2199&RPID=969

[5] SJOGREEN, K., LJUNGBERG, M., WINGARDH, K., MINARIK, D., STRAND, S.E., The LundADose Method for Planar Image Activity Quantification and Absorbed-Dose Assessment in Radionuclide Therapy, Cancer Biother Radiopharm 20 1 (2005) 92-