Acquisition Conditions for Lu-177 DOTATATE Imaging

Abstract

We investigated imaging conditions for the distribution of lutetium oxodotreotide (Lu-177 DOTATATE) in the body during peptide receptor radionuclide therapy for neuroendocrine tumor (NET). We investigated imaging conditions using gamma rays emitted from the radionuclide. The gamma rays had energy peaks at 113 and 208 keV and characteristic X-rays at 56 keV. Image quality was compared by utilizing a combination of low–medium-energy general-purpose (LMEGP) and medium-energy general-purpose (MEGP) collimators. This study included the measurement of total spatial resolution (Full Width at Half Maximum) using a line source phantom. We compared the image quality of static images using a plane phantom and SPECT images using a cylindrical phantom. This comparison involved assessing recovery coefficient curves, count ratio, and %CV. Imaging evaluation was also performed on one NET patient. In phantom studies and the clinical study, comparing the combination of the three energy peaks (56 + 113 + 208 keV) using the LMEGP collimator and the conventional combination (113 + 208 keV) using the MEGP collimator revealed a count ratio of 1.9 times the maximum, stable %CV, and the best image quality.