@article{705252016802471da5c7a7e37c95eceb,
title = "Feasibility of state of the art PET/CT systems performance harmonisation",
abstract = "Purpose: The objective of this study was to explore the feasibility of harmonising performance for PET/CT systems equipped with time-of-flight (ToF) and resolution modelling/point spread function (PSF) technologies. A second aim was producing a working prototype of new harmonising criteria with higher contrast recoveries than current EARL standards using various SUV metrics. Methods: Four PET/CT systems with both ToF and PSF capabilities from three major vendors were used to acquire and reconstruct images of the NEMA NU2–2007 body phantom filled conforming EANM EARL guidelines. A total of 15 reconstruction parameter sets of varying pixel size, post filtering and reconstruction type, with three different acquisition durations were used to compare the quantitative performance of the systems. A target range for recovery curves was established such that it would accommodate the highest matching recoveries from all investigated systems. These updated criteria were validated on 18 additional scanners from 16 sites in order to demonstrate the scanners{\textquoteright} ability to meet the new target range. Results: Each of the four systems was found to be capable of producing harmonising reconstructions with similar recovery curves. The five reconstruction parameter sets producing harmonising results significantly increased SUVmean (25%) and SUVmax (26%) contrast recoveries compared with current EARL specifications. Additional prospective validation performed on 18 scanners from 16 EARL accredited sites demonstrated the feasibility of updated harmonising specifications. SUVpeak was found to significantly reduce the variability in quantitative results while producing lower recoveries in smaller (≤17 mm diameter) sphere sizes. Conclusions: Harmonising PET/CT systems with ToF and PSF technologies from different vendors was found to be feasible. The harmonisation of such systems would require an update to the current multicentre accreditation program EARL in order to accommodate higher recoveries. SUVpeak should be further investigated as a noise resistant alternative quantitative metric to SUVmax.",
keywords = "EARL accreditation, Harmonisation, PET/CT, Performance, Quantification",
author = "Andres Kaalep and Terez Sera and Sjoerd Rijnsdorp and Maqsood Yaqub and Anne Talsma and Lodge, {Martin A.} and Ronald Boellaard",
note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgements The publication of this article was supported by funds of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM). We would like to thank the EARL sites that provided additional reconstructions of the image quality QC phantom experiments, namely: University Clinic for Nuclear Medicine and Endocrinology, Salzburg, Austria. VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. GIE Humanitep, Lille, France. University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. Zentralklinik Bad Berka, Bad Berka, Germany. University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France. VieCuri Medical Centre, Venlo, The Netherlands. University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany. Cancer Institute Nantes-Atlantiques, St. Herblain, France. Groene Hart Ziekenhuis, Gouda, The Netherlands. University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium. Heinrich-Heine University Hospital, D{\"u}sseldorf, Germany. University Hospital Brussels, Jette, Belgium. Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. St. Vincent{\textquoteright}s Hospital PET - CT Centre, Linz, Austria. Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. King{\textquoteright}s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom. Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. Funding Information: The publication of this article was supported by funds of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM). We would like to thank the EARL sites that provided additional reconstructions of the image quality QC phantom experiments, namely: University Clinic for Nuclear Medicine and Endocrinology, Salzburg, Austria. VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. GIE Humanitep, Lille, France. University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. Zentralklinik Bad Berka, Bad Berka, Germany. University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France. VieCuri Medical Centre, Venlo, The Netherlands. University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany. Cancer Institute Nantes-Atlantiques, St. Herblain, France. Groene Hart Ziekenhuis, Gouda, The Netherlands. University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium. Heinrich-Heine University Hospital, D?sseldorf, Germany. University Hospital Brussels, Jette, Belgium. Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. St. Vincent?s Hospital PET - CT Centre, Linz, Austria. Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. King?s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom. Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. Andres Kaalep declares that he has no conflict of interest. Terez Sera has received travel grants and honoraria from EARL. Sjoerd Rijnsdorp declares that he has no conflict of interest. Maqsood Yaqub declares that he has no conflict of interest. Anne Talsma declares that he has no conflict of interest. Martin A. Lodge declares that he has no conflict of interest. Ronald Boellaard is an unpaid member of the EARL scientific advisory board. This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018, The Author(s).",
year = "2018",
month = jul,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1007/s00259-018-3977-4",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "45",
pages = "1344--1361",
journal = "European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging",
issn = "1619-7070",
publisher = "Springer Verlag",
number = "8",
}