Title :
Clear-PEM: Monte Carlo performance and image reconstruction studies
Author :
Trindade, A. ; Almeida, Paulo ; Ferreira, Nuno ; Fraga, Francisco ; Martins, Miguel ; Matela, Nuno ; Mendes, Paulo ; Moura, Ronildo ; Ortigao, Catarina ; Peralta, L. ; Ribeiro, Richardson
Author_Institution :
Laboratorio de Instrumentacao e Fisica Exp. de Particulas, Lisboa, Portugal
Abstract :
The Clear-PEM prototype under development aims to improve early stage breast cancer diagnostics. The proposed device is based on cerium doped lutetium crystal matrices developed by the Crystal Clear Collaboration, as well as on modern data acquisition techniques. A series of Monte Carlo studies were performed to evaluate detection sensitivity, background rate and intrinsic spatial resolution in order to optimize the final detector concept. A description of the developed GEANT4 based simulation framework and PEM image reconstruction software is also presented in this paper. First simulation results indicates that Clear-PEM design significantly increases detection sensitivity in comparison with conventional PET cameras for breast cancer diagnostics. Count-rate simulation results are within operation limits for the data acquisition system, able to read 1 MHz event rate, allowing to take full profit of the large detector acceptance.
Keywords :
Monte Carlo methods; biological organs; cancer; data acquisition; image reconstruction; mammography; medical image processing; positron emission tomography; solid scintillation detectors; Crystal Clear Collaboration; GEANT4 based simulation framework; Monte Carlo performance; Monte Carlo studies; background rate; breast cancer diagnostics; cerium doped lutetium crystal matrices; count-rate simulation; data acquisition; detection sensitivity; image reconstruction studies; intrinsic spatial resolution; Breast cancer; Cerium; Collaboration; Data acquisition; Detectors; Image reconstruction; Monte Carlo methods; Performance evaluation; Prototypes; Spatial resolution;
Conference_Titel :
Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record, 2003 IEEE
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-8257-9
DOI :
10.1109/NSSMIC.2003.1352254