Effect of detector parameters on the image quality of Compton camera for Tc-99m

Abstract

The Compton camera has a bright future as a medical imaging device considering its compactness, low patient dose, multiple-radioisotope tracing capability, inherent three dimensional (3D) imaging capability at a fixed position, etc. Currently, however, the image resolution of the Compton camera is not sufficient for medical imaging. In this study, we investigated the influence of various detector parameters on the image quality of the Compton camera for Tc-99m with GEANT4. Our result shows that the segmentation of the detectors significantly affects the image resolution of the Compton camera. The energy discrimination of the detectors was found to significantly affect both the sensitivity and spatial resolution. The use of a higher energy gamma source (e.g., F-18 emitting 511 keV photons), however, will significantly improve the spatial resolution of the Compton camera. It will also minimize the effect of the detector energy resolution. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.