Performance study of a 360° CZT camera for monitoring 177Lu-PSMA treatment

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the quantification performance of a 360° CZT camera for 177Lu-based treatment monitoring. Methods: Three phantoms with known 177Lu activity concentrations were acquired: 1) a uniform cylindrical phantom for calibration, 2) a NEMA IEC body phantom for analysis of different-sized spheres to optimise quantification parameters, and 3) a phantom containing two large vials simulating organs at risk for tests Four sets of reconstruction parameters were tested: 1) Scatter, 2) Scatter and Point Spread Function Recovery (PSFR), 3) PSFR only and 4) Penalized likelihood option and Scatter, varying the number of updates (iterations × subsets) with CT based attenuation correction only. For each, activity concentration (ARC) and contrast recovery coefficients (CRC) were estimated as well as root mean square. Visualisation and quantification parameters were applied to reconstructed patient image data. Results: Optimised quantification parameters were determined to be: CT-based attenuation correction, scatter correction, 12 iterations, 8 subsets and no filter. ARC, CRC and RMS results were dependant on the methodology used for calculations. Two different reconstruction parameters were recommended for visualisation and for quantification. 3D whole-body SPECT images were acquired and reconstructed for 177Lu-PSMA patients in 2-3 times faster than the time taken for a conventional gamma camera. Conclusion: Quantification of whole-body 3D images of patients treated with 177Lu-PSMA is feasible and an optimised set of parameters has been determined. This camera greatly reduces procedure time whilst providing a final 3D whole-body image.