Detection and compensation of organ/lesion motion using 4D-PET/CT respiratory gated acquisition techniques
Abstract
Purpose
To describe the degradation effects produced by respiratory organ and lesion motion on PET/CT images and to define the role of respiratory gated (RG) 4D-PET/CT techniques to compensate for such effects.
Methods
Based on the literature and on our own experience, technical recommendations and clinical indications for the use of RG 4D PET/CT have been outlined.
Results
RG 4D-PET/CT techniques require a state of the art PET/CT scanner, a respiratory monitoring system and dedicated acquisition and processing protocols. Patient training is particularly important to obtain a regular breathing pattern. An adequate number of phases has to be selected to balance motion compensation and statistical noise. RG 4D PET/CT motion free images may be clinically useful for tumour tissue characterization, monitoring patient treatment and target definition in radiation therapy planning.
Conclusions
RG 4D PET/CT is a valuable tool to improve image quality and quantitative accuracy and to assess and measure organ and lesion motion for radiotherapy planning.
Keywords: Respiratory organ motion, Respiratory gated 4D-PET/CT, Radiotherapy
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PII: S0167-8140(10)00421-4
doi:10.1016/j.radonc.2010.07.014
© 2010 European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology and European Association of Nuclear Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
