Effects of attenuation map accuracy on attenuation-corrected micro-SPECT images

BACKGROUND: In single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), attenuation of photon flux in tissue affects quantitative accuracy of reconstructed images. Attenuation maps derived from X-ray computed tomography (CT) can be employed for attenuation correction. The attenuation coefficients as well as registration accuracy between SPECT and CT can be influenced by several factors. Here we investigate how such inaccuracies influence micro-SPECT quantification. METHODS: Effects of (1) misalignments between micro-SPECT and micro-CT through shifts and rotation, (2) globally altered attenuation coefficients and (3) combinations of these were evaluated. Tests were performed with a NEMA NU 4–2008 phantom and with rat cadavers containing sources with known activity. RESULTS: Changes in measured activities within volumes of interest in phantom images ranged from <1.5% ((125)I) and <0.6% ((201)Tl, (99m)Tc and (111)In) for 1-mm shifts to <4.5% ((125)I) and <1.7% ((201)Tl, (99m)Tc and (111)In) with large misregistration (3 mm). Changes induced by 15° rotation were smaller than those by 3-mm shifts. By significantly altering attenuation coefficients (±10%), activity changes of <5.2% for (125)I and <2.7% for (201)Tl, (99m)Tc and (111)In were induced. Similar trends were seen in rat studies. CONCLUSIONS: While getting sufficient accuracy of attenuation maps in clinical imaging is highly challenging, our results indicate that micro-SPECT quantification is quite robust to various imperfections of attenuation maps.