Study of Repeatability of a Novel PET Flow Phantom

Abstract

<p>Dynamic Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is a valuable method in Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (MPI) allowing quantification of blood flow in the myocardial tissue. A reference test object simulating myocardial blood flow is needed. A newly developed PET phantom enables flow quantification with a known reference. However, the repetability of the flow phantom needs to be confirmed. </p><p>The aim of this study was to confirm that no significant variability exists between image-derived or reference flow between subsequent measurements. Finally, we confirmed repeatability of the flow values derived by kinetic modelling from PET images of the phantom. </p><p>Five repeated measurements with fixed acquisition and reconstruction protocol were performed. PET images were analysed with a software provided by the phantom vendor to derive the time-activity curves for modelling of flow values. </p><p>The image-derived flow rates varied with SD of 0.89 mL/min and 0.86 mL/min between subsequent measurements. Error between image-derived and reference flow was less than 5.5 % on average within all subsequent repeats. Fluctuations between the subsequent measurements are considered to arise from the dose administration and water flow inside the phantom. </p><p>In conclusion, the newly developed PET flow phantom shows high repeatability and is a reliable platform for quality control and validation studies in MPI in PET.</p>