Evaluation of image quality at the detector’s edge of dedicated breast positron emission tomography

Abstract Background Using phantoms and clinical studies in prone hanging breast imaging, we assessed the image quality of a commercially available dedicated PET (dbPET) at detector’s edge, where mammary glands near chest wall are located. These compared to supine PET/CT images same subjects. Methods A phantom with four spheres (16-, 10-, 7.5-, 5-mm diameter) was filled 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose solution (sphere-to-background activity concentration ratio, 8:1). The occupied five different positions from top edge centre detector were scanned for 5 min each position. Reconstructed visually evaluated, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), contrast recovery coefficient (CRC) all spheres, variation background (CV B ) calculated. Subsequently, obtained standard dbPET retrospectively analysed. Tumour-to-background ratios (TBRs) between cancer (close edge; peripheral group) other locations (non-peripheral compared. TBR lesion PET/CT. Results Closer CNR CRC decreased while CV increased study. disadvantages this placement confirmed. Regarding images, significantly higher than that both (12.38 ± 6.41 vs 6.73 3.5, p = 0.0006) non-peripheral (12.44 5.94 7.71 7.1, 0.0183) groups. There no significant difference Conclusion study revealed poorer < 2-cm distance more central parts. In studies, however, visibility lesions regardless position, it has great potential detecting if they least 2 cm FOV, even young women small breasts.