2005/07/11 by Krzysztof Kacperski, N. M. Spyrou, Nicholas M. Spyrou +3 · 2 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Engineering · Medicine · Physics and Astronomy · Psychology · #Advanced X-ray and CT Imaging #Breastfeeding Practices and Influences #Cleft Lip and Palate Research #Health, Education, and Physical Culture #Medical Imaging Techniques and Applications #Radiation Detection and Scintillator Technologies #physics.med-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/0031-9155/50/23/019
arxiv created 2005/07/11 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex publication_date 2010/05/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11
We have recently introduced the idea of making use of three-photon positron annihilations in positron emission tomography. In this paper, the basic characteristics of the three-gamma imaging in PET are studied by means of Monte Carlo simulations and analytical computations. Two typical configurations of human and small animal scanners are considered. Three-photon imaging requires high-energy resolution detectors. Parameters currently attainable by CdZnTe semiconductor detectors, the technology of choice for the future development of radiation imaging, are assumed. Spatial resolution is calculated as a function of detector energy resolution and size, position in the field of view, scanner size and the energies of the three-gamma annihilation photons. Possible ways to improve the spatial resolution obtained for nominal parameters, 1.5 cm and 3.2 mm FWHM for human and small animal scanners, respectively, are indicated. Counting rates of true and random three-photon events for typical human and small animal scanning configurations are assessed. A simple formula for minimum size of lesions detectable in the three-gamma based images is derived. Depending on the contrast and total number of registered counts, lesions of a few mm size for human and sub mm for small animal scanners can be detected.