Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Monte Carlo-based down-scatter correction of SPECT attenuation maps

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 04 September 2004

Abstract

Combined acquisition of transmission and emission data in single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can be used for correction of non-uniform photon attenuation. However, down-scatter from a higher energy isotope (e.g. 99mTc) contaminates lower energy transmission data (e.g. 153Gd, 100 keV), resulting in underestimation of reconstructed attenuation coefficients. Window-based corrections are often not very accurate and increase noise in attenuation maps. We have developed a new correction scheme. It uses accurate scatter modelling to avoid noise amplification and does not require additional energy windows. The correction works as follows: Initially, an approximate attenuation map is reconstructed using down-scatter contaminated transmission data (step 1). An emission map is reconstructed based on the contaminated attenuation map (step 2). Based on this approximate 99mTc reconstruction and attenuation map, down-scatter in the 153Gd window is simulated using accelerated Monte Carlo simulation (step 3). This down-scatter estimate is used during reconstruction of a corrected attenuation map (step 4). Based on the corrected attenuation map, an improved 99mTc image is reconstructed (step 5). Steps 3–5 are repeated to incrementally improve the down-scatter estimate. The Monte Carlo simulator provides accurate down-scatter estimation with significantly less noise than down-scatter estimates acquired in an additional window. Errors in the reconstructed attenuation coefficients are reduced from ca. 40% to less than 5%. Furthermore, artefacts in 99mTc emission reconstructions are almost completely removed. These results are better than for window-based correction, both in simulation experiments and in physical phantom experiments. Monte Carlo down-scatter simulation in concert with statistical reconstruction provides accurate down-scatter correction of attenuation maps.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ogawa K, Takagi Y, Kubo A, et al. An attenuation correction method of single photon emission computed tomography using gamma ray transmission CT. Kaku Igaku 1985; 22:477–490.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Malko JA, van Heertum RL, Gullberg GT, Kowalsky WP. SPECT liver imaging using an iterative attenuation correction algorithm and an external flood source. J Nucl Med 1986; 27:701–705.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Bailey DL, Hutton BF, Walker PJ. Improved SPECT using simultaneous emission and transmission tomography. J Nucl Med 1987; 28:844–851.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Greer KL, Harris CC, Jaszczak R J et. al. Transmission computed tomography with a SPECT system. J Nucl Med Technol 1987; 15:53–56.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Tsui BMW, Gullberg G, Edgerton E, et al. Correction of nonuniform attenuation in cardiac SPECT imaging. J Nucl Med 1989; 30:497–507.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Manglos SH, Bassano DA, Duxbury C, Capone R. Attenuation maps for SPECT determined using cone beam transmission computed tomography. IEEE Trans Nucl Sci 1990; 37:600–607.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Tan P, Bailey DL, Meikle SR, Eberl S, Fulton RR, Hutton BF. A scanning line source for simultaneous emission and transmission measurements in SPECT. J Nucl Med 1993; 34:1752–1759.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Jaszczak RJ, Gilland D, Hanson M, Jang S, Greer KL, Coleman R. Fast transmission CT for determining attenuation maps using a collimated line source, rotatable air-copper-lead attenuators and fan beam collimation. J Nucl Med 1993; 34:1577–1586.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Tung CH, Gullberg GT. A simulation of emission and transmission noise propagation in cardiac SPECT imaging with nonuniform attenuation correction. Med Phys 1994; 21:1565–1576

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kemp BJ, Prato FS, Nicholson RL, Reese L. Transmission computed tomography imaging of the head with a SPECT system and a collimated line source. J Nucl Med 1995; 36:328–335.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Chang W, Loncaric S, Huang G, Sanpitak P. Asymmetric fan transmission CT on SPECT systems. Phys Med Biol 1995; 40:913–928.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. King MA, Tsui BMW, Pan TS. Attenuation compensation for cardiac single-photon emission computed tomographic imaging: Part 1, Impact of attenuation and methods of estimating attenuation maps. J Nucl Cardiol 1995; 2:513–524.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Gilland DR, Wang H, Coleman RE, Jaszczak RJ. Long focal length, asymmetric fan beam collimation for transmission acquisition with a triple camera SPECT system. IEEE Trans Nucl Sci 1997; 44:1191–1196.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Beekman FJ, Kamphuis C, Hutton BF, van Rijk PP. Half-fan-beam collimators combined with scanning point sources for simultaneous emission transmission imaging. J Nucl Med 1998; 39:1996–2003.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Zaidi H, Hasegawa B. Determination of the attenuation map in emission tomography. J Nucl Med 2003; 44:291–315.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Handel RC, Corbett JR, Cullom SJ, DePuey EG, Garcia EV, Bateman TM. The value and practice of attenuation correction for myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging: a joint position statement from the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology and the Society of Nuclear Medicine. J Nucl Cardiol 2002; 9:135–143.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. O’Connor MK, Kemp B, Anstett F, et al. A multicenter evaluation of commercial attenuation compensation techniques in cardiac SPECT using phantom models. J Nucl Cardiol 2002; 9:361–376.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Heller EN, DeMan P, Liu YH, et al. Extracardiac activity complicates quantitative cardiac SPECT imaging using a simultaneous transmission-emission approach. J Nucl Med 1997; 38:1882–1890.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Hademenos GJ, Dahlbom M, Hoffman EJ. Simultaneous dual-isotope technetium-99m/thallium-201 cardiac SPET imaging using a projection-dependent spilldown correction factor. Eur J Nucl Med 1995; 22:465–472.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. de Jong HWAM, Beekman FJ, Viergever MA, van Rijk PP. Simultaneous99mTc/201Tl dual-isotope SPECT with Monte Carlo based down-scatter correction. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2002; 29:1063–1071.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Narayanan MV, King M, Byrne CL. An iterative transmission algorithm incorporating cross-talk correction for SPECT. Med Phys 2002; 29:694–700.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Kamphuis C, Beekman FJ. Accelerated iterative transmission CT reconstruction using an ordered subset convex algorithm. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 1998; 17:1101–1105.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Beekman FJ, de Jong HWAM, van Geloven S. Efficient fully 3D iterative SPECT reconstruction with Monte Carlo based scatter compensation. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 2002; 21:867–877.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. de Jong HWAM, Wang WT, Frey EC, Viergever MA, Beekman FJ. Fast Monte Carlo simulation of SPECT down-scatter including gamma interactions with crystal and lead. Med Phys 2002; 29:550–560.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. de Jong HWAM, Beekman FJ. Rapid SPECT simulation of down-scatter in non-uniform media. Phys Med Biol 2001; 46:621–635.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Tsui BMW, Zhao XD, Gregouri GK, Lalush DS, Frey EC, Johnston RE, McCartney WH. Quantitative cardiac SPECT reconstruction with reduced image degradation due to patient anatomy. IEEE Trans Nucl Sci 1994; 41:2838–2844.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Jaszczak RJ, Gilland DR, McCormick JW, Scarphone C, Coleman RE. The effect of truncation reduction in fan beam transmission for attenuation correction in cardiac SPECT. IEEE Trans Nucl Sci 1996; 43:2255–2262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

This work was supported in part by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria, during the stay of one of the authors (Tomislav Bokulić) at the UMC Utrecht.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, STR 5.203, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Tomislav Bokulić, Brendan Vastenhouw, Alice J. van Dongen, Peter P. van Rijk & Freek J. Beekman

  2. Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Tomislav Bokulić, Brendan Vastenhouw & Freek J. Beekman

  3. Department of Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital “Sestre milosrdnice”, Zagreb, Croatia

    Tomislav Bokulić

  4. VU Medical Centre, Clinical PET Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Hugo W. A. M. de Jong

Authors
  1. Tomislav Bokulić
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Brendan Vastenhouw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hugo W. A. M. de Jong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alice J. van Dongen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Peter P. van Rijk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Freek J. Beekman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Freek J. Beekman.

Additional information

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00259-004-1671-1

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bokulić, T., Vastenhouw, B., de Jong, H.W.A.M. et al. Monte Carlo-based down-scatter correction of SPECT attenuation maps. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 31, 1173–1181 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-004-1507-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-004-1507-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation