Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Instrumentation for Single-Photon Emission Imaging

Nuclear Oncology

Abstract

This chapter reviews the underlying physical principles of single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) and the design and operation as well as the capabilities and limitations of SPECT scanners used clinically and preclinically [1–4]. This is the “companion” chapter to the earlier chapter on positron emission tomography (PET) instrumentation; the material in that chapter on the basic principles of radiation detectors, iterative image reconstruction, and multimodality imaging applies as well to SPECT.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

ACF:

Attenuation correction factor

APD:

Avalanche photodiode

ASIC:

Application-specific integrated circuit

COR:

Center of rotation

CsI(Tl):

Thallium-doped cesium iodide

CT:

X-ray computed tomography

CZT:

Cadmium zinc telluride

ESSE:

Effective scatter source estimation

eV:

Electron volt

FBP:

Filtered back-projection

FL:

Focal length

FOV:

Field of view

FWHM:

Full-width half-maximum

GAP:

General all-purpose

keV:

Kilo-electron volt (103 eV)

LEAP:

Low-energy all-purpose

LEHR:

Low-energy high-resolution

LEHS:

low-energy high-sensitivity

LOR:

Line of response

MeV:

Mega-electron volt (106 eV)

MR:

Magnetic resonance

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

NaI(Tl):

Thallium-doped sodium iodide

PET-MR:

Positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance

PET:

Positron emission tomography

PET/CT:

Positron emission tomography/computed tomography

PMT:

Photomultiplier tube

RF:

Radiofrequency

ROI:

Region of interest

SAD:

Source-to-aperture distance

SPECT-MR:

Single-photon emission computed tomography-magnetic resonance

SPECT:

Single-photon emission computed tomography

SPECT/CT:

Single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography

TEW:

Triple-energy window

References

  1. Zanzonico P. Principles of nuclear medicine imaging: planar, SPECT, PET, multi-modality, and autoradiography systems. Radiat Res. 2012;177:349–64.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Zanzonico P. Radionuclide imaging. In: Cherry S, Badawy R, Qi J, editors. Essentials of in vivo biomedical imaging. Boca Raton: CRC Press; 2015. p. 1765–224.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Zanzonico P, Heller S. Physics, instrumentation, and radiation protection. In: Biersack H-JF, Leonard M, editors. Clinical nuclear medicine. Heidelberg: Springer; 2007. p. 1–33.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  4. Zanzonico PB. Technical requirements for SPECT: equipment and quality control. In: Kramer EL, Sanger JJ, editors. Clinical applications in SPECT. New York: Raven Press; 1995. p. 7–41.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Firestone RB, Shirley VS, editors. Table 11 of isotopes. 8th ed. New York: Wiley; 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Weber D, Eckerman K, Dillman L, et al. MIRD: radionuclide data and decay schemes. New York: Society of Nuclear Medicine; 1989. p. 447.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Slomka PJ, Berman DS, Germano G. New cardiac cameras: single-photon emission CT and PET. Semin Nucl Med. 2014;44:232–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Slomka PJ, Pan T, Berman DS, et al. Advances in SPECT and PET hardware. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2015;57:566–78.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Saha GS. Physics and radiobiology of nuclear medicine. New York: Springer; 1993. p. 107–23.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  10. Frey EC, Humm JL, Ljungberg M. Accuracy and precision of radioactivity quantification in nuclear medicine images. Semin Nucl Med. 2012;42:208–18.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Tsui BM, Zhao X, Frey EC, et al. Quantitative single-photon emission computed tomography: basics and clinical considerations. Semin Nucl Med. 1994;24:38–65.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Dewaraja YK, Frey EC, Sgouros G, et al. MIRD pamphlet no. 23: quantitative SPECT for patient-specific 3D dosimetry in internal radionuclide therapy. J Nucl Med. 2012;53:1310–25, in press.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Zanzonico P. Positron emission tomography: a review of basic principles, scanner design and performance, and current systems. Semin Nucl Med. 2004;34:87–111.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Zanzonico P. Routine quality control of clinical nuclear medicine instrumentation: a brief review. J Nucl Med. 2008;49:1114–31.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Greer K, Jaszczak RJ, Harris C, et al. Quality control in SPECT. J Nucl Med Technol. 1985;13:76–85.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Harkness BA, Rogers WL, Clinthorne NH, et al. SPECT: quality control and artifact identification. J Nucl Med Technol. 1983;11:55–60.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Meikle SR, Badawi RD. Quantitative techniques in PET. In: Bailey DL et al., editors. Positron emission tomography: basic sciences. London: Springer; 2005. p. 93–126.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  18. Bailey DL. Quantitative procedures in 3D PET. In: Bendriem B, Townsend DW, editors. The theory and practice of 3D PET. Dordrecht: Kluwer; 1998. p. 55–109.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  19. Ogawa K, Harata Y, Ichihara T, et al. A practical method for position-dependent Compton-scatter correction in single photon-emission CT. IEEE Trans Med Imaging. 1991;10:408–12.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Frey EC, Tsui B. A new method for modeling the spatially-variant, object-dependent scatter response function in SPECT. IEEE; 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Beekman FJ, de Jong HW, van Geloven S. Efficient fully 3-D iterative SPECT reconstruction with Monte Carlo-based scatter compensation. IEEE Trans Med Imaging. 2002;21:867–77.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Dewaraja YK, Ljungberg M, Fessler JA. 3-D Monte Carlo-based scatter compensation in quantitative I-131 SPECT reconstruction. IEEE Trans Nucl Sci. 2006;53:181–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Ouyang J, El Fakhri G, Moore SC. Improved activity estimation with MC-JOSEM versus TEW-JOSEM in 111In SPECT. Med Phys. 2008;35:2029–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Shcherbinin S, Celler A, Belhocine T, et al. Accuracy of quantitative reconstructions in SPECT/CT imaging. Phys Med Biol. 2008;53:4595.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Chang LT. A method for attenuation correction in radionuclide computed tomography. IEEE Trans Nucl Sci. 1978;25:638–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Sorenson JA. Quantitative measurement of radioactivity in whole-body counting. In: Hine GJ, Soresnon JA, editors. Instrumentation of nuclear medicine. Waltham: Academic; 1974. p. 311–48.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Israel O, Goldsmith SJ, editors. Hybrid SPECT/CT: imaging in clinical practice. New York: Taylor & Francis; 2006. p. 244.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Defrise M, Kinahan P. Data acquisition and image reconstruction for 3D PET. In: Bendriem B, Townsend DW, editors. The theory and practice of 3D PET. Dordrecht: Kluwer; 1998. p. 11–53.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  29. Defrise M, Kinahan PE, Michel CJ. Image reconstruction algorithms in PET. In: Bailey DL et al., editors. Positron emission tomography: basic sciences. London: Springer; 2005. p. 63–91.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  30. Hoffman EJ, Huang SC, Phelps ME. Quantitation in positron emission computed tomography: 1. Effect of object size. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 1979;3:299–308.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Erlandsson K, Buvat I, Pretorius PH, Thomas BA, Hutton BF. A review of partial volume correction techniques for emission tomography and their applications in neurology, cardiology and oncology. Phys Med Biol. 2012;57:R119–59.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Sgouros G, Frey E, Wahl R, et al. Three-dimensional imaging-based radiobiological dosimetry. Semin Nucl Med. 2008;38:321–34.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Flux G, Bardies M, Monsieurs M, et al. The impact of PET and SPECT on dosimetry for targeted radionuclide therapy. Z Med Phys. 2006;16:47–59.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Hamamura MJ, Ha S, Roeck WW, et al. Development of an MR-compatible SPECT system (MRSPECT) for simultaneous data acquisition. Phys Med Biol. 2010;55:1563–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Hamamura MJ, Ha S, Roeck WW, et al. Initial investigation of preclinical integrated SPECT and MR imaging. Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2010;9:21–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Ha S, Hamamura MJ, Roeck WW, et al. Development of a new RF coil and gamma-ray radiation shielding assembly for improved MR image quality in SPECT/MRI. Phys Med Biol. 2010;55:2495–504.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Hamamura MJ, Roeck WW, Ha S, et al. Simultaneous in vivo dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance and scintigraphic imaging. Phys Med Biol. 2011;56:N63–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Travin MI. Cardiac cameras. Semin Nucl Med. 2011;41:182–201.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Imbert L, Poussier S, Franken PR, et al. Compared performance of high-sensitivity cameras dedicated to myocardial perfusion SPECT: a comprehensive analysis of phantom and human images. J Nucl Med. 2012;53:1897–903.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Cherry SR, Sorenson JA, Phelps ME. Physics in nuclear medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders; 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Hines H, Kayayan R, Colsher J, et al. Recommendations for implementing SPECT instrumentation quality control. Nuclear Medicine Section – National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). Eur J Nucl Med. 1999;26:527–32.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Hines H, Kayayan R, Colsher J, et al. National Electrical Manufacturers Association recommendations for implementing SPECT instrumentation quality control. J Nucl Med. 2000;41:383–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. NEMA. Performance measurements of scintillation counters. NEMA Standards Publication NU1-2001. Rosslyn: National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA); 2001.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Physics, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Pat Zanzonico

Authors
  1. Pat Zanzonico
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pat Zanzonico .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Attending Emeritus, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Dept. Radiology, New York, New York, USA

    H. William Strauss

  2. Professor Emeritus, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Giuliano Mariani

  3. Associate Professor and Director of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Duccio Volterrani

  4. Attending Physician, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA

    Steven M. Larson

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this entry

Cite this entry

Zanzonico, P. (2016). Instrumentation for Single-Photon Emission Imaging. In: Strauss, H., Mariani, G., Volterrani, D., Larson, S. (eds) Nuclear Oncology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26067-9_5-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26067-9_5-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-26067-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Instrumentation for Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)
    Published:
    10 April 2022

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26067-9_5-2

  2. Original

    Instrumentation for Single-Photon Emission Imaging
    Published:
    07 October 2016

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26067-9_5-1

Search

Navigation