Effect of correction methods on image resolution of myocardial perfusion imaging using single photon emission computed tomography combined with computed tomography hybrid systems

Abstract

Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) gamma camera has been widely utilized for diagnosis and risk stratification of ischemic heart disease. Objective; The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of different correction methods on image resolution of MPI using the SPECT/CT hybrid system. Materials and Method; A total of 114 patients, 43 females and 71 males, patient’s raw data were processed and analyzed using Attenuation correction (AC), Scatter correction (SC), Both attenuation and scatter correction together (ACSC) and no-correction (NC). The short axis (coronal) slices resulted from the raw data reconstruction were chosen to draw the curve profile to identify the line spread function on the image to create the FWHM curve. Profile statistics were calculated to obtain the value of FWHM. Statistical analysis was made for the calculated FWHM values for AC, SC, ACSC, and NC to determine the best image resolution. Results; It turns out that applying the SC alone yields better FWHM value (8.13), compared to AC (8.77), and ACSC (8.72). Both AC and ACSC had better FWHM compared to NC (8.91). Conclusion; The study indicates that the intercomparison between the four avaliable correction conditions the image resolution has been significantly improved by using scatter correction, attenuation correction, and both methods together when compared with the non-corrected image. Also it was found that the scatter correction condition is superior in the image resolution than the other correction condition in the reconstruction of SPECT/CT myocardial perfusion images.