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Normalized glandular dose (DgN) coefficients obtained using homogeneous breast phantoms are commonly used in breast dosimetry for mammography. However, glandular tissue is heterogeneously distributed in the breast. This study aimed to construct three-layer heterogeneous mammographic phantoms (THEPs) to examine the effect of glandular distribution on DgN coefficient. Each layer of THEPs was set to 25%, 50%, or 75% glandular fraction to emulate heterogeneous glandular distribution. Monte Carlo simulation was performed to attain mean glandular dose (MGD) and air kerma at 22–36 kVp and W/Al, W/Rh, and W/Ag target–filter combinations. The heterogeneous DgN coefficient was calculated as functions of the mean glandular fraction (MGF), breast thickness, tube voltage, and half-value layer. At 50% MGF, the heterogeneous DgN coefficients for W/Al, W/Rh, and W/Ag differed by 40.3%, 36.7%, and 31.2%. At 9-cm breast thickness, the DgN values of superior and inferior glandular distributions were 25.4% higher and 29.2% lower than those of uniform distribution. The proposed THEPs can be integrated with conventional breast dosimetry to consider the heterogeneous glandular distribution in clinical practice.

Adequate compression during mammography lowers the absorbed dose in the breast and improves the image quality. The compressed breast thickness (CBT) is affected by various factors, such as breast volume, glandularity, and compression force. In this study, we used the finite element analysis to simulate breast compression and deformation and validated the simulated CBT with clinical mammography results. Image data from ten subjects who had undergone mammography screening and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were collected, and their breast models were created according to the MR images. The non-linear tissue deformation under 10−16 daN in the cranial-caudal direction was simulated. When the clinical compression force was used, the simulated CBT ranged from 2.34 to 5.90 cm. The absolute difference between the simulated CBT and the clinically measured CBT ranged from 0.5 to 7.1 mm. The simulated CBT had a strong positive linear relationship to breast volume and a weak negative correlation to glandularity. The average simulated CBT under 10, 12, 14, and 16 daN was 5.68, 5.12, 4.67, and 4.25 cm, respectively. Through this study, the relationships between CBT, breast volume, glandularity, and compression force are provided for use in clinical mammography.

Optical computed tomography (optical CT) has been proven to be a useful tool for dose readouts of polymer gel dosimeters. In this study, the algebraic reconstruction technique (ART) for image reconstruction of gel dosimeters was used to improve the image quality of optical CT. Cylindrical phantoms filled with N-isopropyl-acrylamide polymer gels were irradiated using a medical linear accelerator. A circular dose distribution and a hexagonal dose distribution were produced by applying the VMAT technique and the six-field dose delivery, respectively. The phantoms were scanned using optical CT, and the images were reconstructed using the filtered back-projection (FBP) algorithm and the ART. For the circular dose distribution, the ART successfully reduced the ring artifacts and noise in the reconstructed image. For the hexagonal dose distribution, the ART reduced the hot spots at the entrances of the beams and increased the dose uniformity in the central region. Within 50% isodose line, the gamma pass rates for the 2 mm/3% criteria for the ART and FBP were 99.2% and 88.1%, respectively. The ART could be used for the reconstruction of optical CT images to improve image quality and provide accurate dose conversion for polymer gel dosimeters.

Background/PurposeCone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) can provide valuable data for root canal systems of human teeth in vivo. This study used CBCT to evaluate the number of roots and canals of 300 mandibular first premolars in 150 northern Taiwanese patients.MethodsThe root canal systems of 300 mandibular first premolars in 150 northern Taiwanese patients with bilateral premolars were analyzed by CBCT.ResultsOf the 300 mandibular first premolars, 197 (65.7%) had one root with one canal (1R1C), 49 (16.3%) had one root with two canals (1R2C), 51 (17.0%) had two roots with one canal in each root (2R2C), and three (1.0%) had three roots with one canal in each root (3R3C). Statistical analyses showed that women had a significantly higher incidence of 1R1C mandibular first premolars (71.4%) than men (58.8%, p = 0.031), and men had a significantly higher incidence of 2R2C mandibular first premolars (27.2%) than women (8.5%, p

Objectives. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is frequently used to measure the areal bone mineral density (aBMD) in clinical practice. However, DXA measurements are affected by the bone thickness and the body size and are unable to indicate nonosseous areas within the trabecular bone. This study aims to quantify the volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) using computed tomography (CT) images and the two-compartment model (TCM) methods. Methods. The TCM method was proposed and validated by dipotassium phosphate (K2HPO4) phantoms and a standard forearm phantom. 28 cases with DXA scans and pelvic CT scans acquired within six months were retrospectively collected. The vBMD calculated by TCM was compared with the aBMD obtained from DXA. Results. For the K2HPO4 phantoms with vBMD ranging from 0.135 to 0.467 g/cm3, the average difference between the real and calculated vBMD was 0.009 g/cm3 and the maximum difference was 0.019 g/cm3. For the standard forearm phantom with vBMD of 0.194, 0.103, and 0.054 g/cm3, the average differences between the real and calculated vBMD were 0.017, 0.014, and 0.011 g/cm3. In the clinical CT image validation, a good linear relationship between vBMD and aBMD was observed with the Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.920 (p<0.01). Conclusions. The proposed TCM method in combination with the homemade cortical bone equivalent phantom provides accurate quantification and spatial distribution of bone mineral content.

Computed tomography (CT) has been widely used in clinical diagnosis. It is important to estimate radiation dose and perform image quality assurance procedures for CT scans. In this study, nMAG gel dosimeters were used to simultaneously measure the 300-mm weighted CT dose index (CTDI) and slice sensitivity profile (SSP) for multiple detector CT (MDCT). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on the irradiated gel to create R2‒dose response curves for the tube voltages of 120 and 140 kVp. The gel dosimeters were loaded in three home-made cylindrical phantoms to obtain CTDI100 and CTDI300. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) for 2, 5, 10, 14.4, and 38.4-mm slice thicknesses was measured and compared with the result obtained by radiochromic films. The difference in weighted CTDI100 obtained by the gel dosimeter and ionization chamber was less than 1%. The CTDI efficiency at 120 and 140 kVp was in the range of 80.1%–82.5%. The FWHM of SSP measured by the gel dosimeter matched very well with the nominal slice thickness. The use of nMAG gel dosimeters combined with the home-made cylindrical phantoms can provide 300-mm weighted CTDI and slice thickness information, showing potential for quality assurance and clinical applications in MDCT.

Dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides high-resolution tomographic images and has been gradually used in clinical practice. Thus, it is important to examine the amount of radiation dose resulting from dental CBCT examinations. In this study, we developed an in-house anthropomorphic adult head phantom to evaluate the level of effective dose. The anthropomorphic phantom was made of acrylic and filled with plaster to replace the bony tissue. The contour of the head was extracted from a set of adult computed tomography (CT) images. Different combinations of the scanning parameters of CBCT were applied. Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) were used to measure the absorbed doses at 19 locations in the head and neck regions. The effective doses measured using the proposed phantom at 65, 75, and 85 kVp in the D-mode were 72.23, 100.31, and 134.29 µSv, respectively. In the I-mode, the effective doses were 108.24, 190.99, and 246.48 µSv, respectively. The maximum percent error between the doses measured by the proposed phantom and the Rando phantom was l4.90%. Therefore, the proposed anthropomorphic adult head phantom is applicable for assessing the radiation dose resulting from clinical dental CBCT.

Over the last two decades, radiotherapy techniques have become more sophisticated. Three-dimensional (3-D) dose verification is required to ensure accurate dose delivery to the planning target volume. Gel dosimeters have the potential to measure the 3-D dose distribution and thus can be applicable in radiotherapy. In this study, we developed a novel DEMBIG gel dosimeter based on the 2-(Dimethylamino) ethyl acrylate (DEMA) monomer and used computed tomography (CT) to evaluate its characteristics. The DEMBIG gel was composed of 7% gelatin, 5% monomer, and 4% crosslinker. The gel response to a dose from 1 to 25 Gy was examined. The energy dependence, dose rate dependence, and spatial resolution were evaluated as well. After 24 h post-irradiation, the DEMBIG gel reached steady state. The average sensitivity at the photon energy of 6 MV was 0.459 HU/Gy (R2=0.995). The variations in sensitivity between 6-, 10-, and 15-MV photons were lower than 3%, and the difference in sensitivity between the dose rate of 100 and 600 MU/min was 28%. For a beam profile of 3 × 6 cm2 and 6 MV, the 80%-20% penumbra for 0/5, 0/15, and 5/15 Gy can be around 2.73, 6.24, and 2.34 mm, respectively. We conclude that the DEMBIG gel dosimeter has high linearity of R2 = 0.995 and high sensitivity of 0.459 HU/Gy. With CT readout, it could be used in clinical radiotherapy to verify the accuracy of 3-D dose delivery.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to improve detectability of microcalcifications using a dual-energy digital mammographic (DEDM) technique. METHODS: Slabs of uniform breast-equivalent plastic and an additional plate were used to mimic various breast thicknesses, from 3 to 7 cm, and to simulate microcalcification with diameters from 0.16 to 0.39 mm. Free-response receiver operating characteristics and area under the curves (Az) were used to evaluate the sensitivity of detecting microcalcifications using the DEDM compared with using the conventional single-energy digital mammography (SEDM). RESULTS: The mean number of false-positives per image was 0.0198 (Az = 0.956 ± 0.027) using DEDM compared with 0.292 (Az = 0.681 ± 0.235) using SEDM. A lower radiation dose could be possibly obtained for the DEDM technique with a thickness of less than 5 cm compared with the SEDM with a thickness larger than 5 cm. CONCLUSIONS: Microcalcifications could be more accurately and efficiently detected using the DEDM, which might bring reliable and promising applications on early computer-aided diagnosis of breast cancer.

Nowadays, radiotherapy attempts to deliver complex three-dimensional (3-D) dose distribution. The gel dosimeter, which can measure the 3-D dose output, is suitable for clinical use. This study developed an n-NIPAM gel dosimeter based on an N -isopropyl-acrylamide monomer, and used computed tomography (CT) to evaluate the characteristics of n-NIPAM gels. The n-NIPAM gel consisted of 6% gelatin, 5% monomer, and 2.5% cross-linker combined with 5 mM tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium chloride (THPC) for deoxygenation. Dose responses of 2–15 Gy delivered by a linear accelerator were examined. Temporal instability, energy dependence, dose rate dependence, and spatial resolution were evaluated as well. Temporal instability appeared before 24 h post-irradiation. The maximum difference of sensitivity reached 33% for various dose rates from 100 to 500 cGy min −1 , while it was within 10% for X-ray energies from 6 to 15 MV. The average sensitivity of n-NIPAM under 6 MV and 400 cGy min −1 was 0.5689 HU Gy −1 , and the linearity ( R 2 =0.998) was comparable to that of the conventional NIPAM gels. For the spatial resolution, the edge spread distances were generally shorter than 6.5 mm for adjacent quadrants with different dose gradients of 5/10, 5/15, 10/20, and 15/20 Gy. We conclude that n-NIPAM has high linearity and high sensitivity. Although the energy dependence is minor, there is a slight dose rate dependence. The proposed dosimeter with CT readout is suitable in clinical radiotherapy to increase the accuracy of dose verification.

The quantitative ability of PET/CT allows the widespread use in clinical research and cancer staging. However, metal artifacts induced by high-density metal objects degrade the quality of CT images. These artifacts also propagate to the corresponding PET image and cause a false increase of 18F-FDG uptake near the metal implants when the CT-based attenuation correction (AC) is performed. In this study, we applied a model-based metal artifact reduction (MAR) algorithm to reduce the dark and bright streaks in the CT image and compared the differences between PET images with the general CT-based AC (G-AC) and the MAR-corrected-CT AC (MAR-AC). Results showed that the MAR algorithm effectively reduced the metal artifacts in the CT images of the ACR flangeless phantom and two clinical cases. The MAR-AC also removed the false-positive hot spot near the metal implants of the PET images. We conclude that the MAR-AC could be applied in clinical practice to improve the quantitative accuracy of PET images. Additionally, further use of PET/CT fusion images with metal artifact correction could be more valuable for diagnosis.

A new type of normoxic polymer gel dosimeter, named MAGAT responses well to absorbed dose even when manufacturing in the presence of normal levels of oxygen. The aim of this study was to evaluate dose response, diffusion effect and cumulated dose response under multiple fractional irradiations of the MAGAT gel dosimeter using Multiple Spin-Echo (MSE) Magnetic Resonance (MR) sequence. Dose response was performed by irradiating MAGAT-gel-filled testing vials with a 6 MV linear accelerator and a linear relationship was present with doses from 0 to 6 Gy, but gradually, a bi-exponential function result was obtained with given doses up to 20 Gy. No significant difference in dose response was present between single and cumulated doses (p > 0.05). For study of diffusion effect, edge sharpness of the R2 map imaging between two split doses was smaller than 1 cm of dose profile penumbra between 20% and 80%. In conclusion, the MAGAT polymer gel dosimeter with MSE MR imaging is a promising method for dose verification in clinical radiation therapy practice.

Organ motion caused by respiration is a major challenge in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. This work proposes a technique to reduce smearing in PET imaging caused by respiratory motion. Dynamic scanning at 1 frame/s is used. A point source, used as a marker, is attached to the object's abdomen during the scan. The source position in the projection view moves with respiratory motion and can be used to represent the respiratory phase within the time interval in which each frame data are acquired. One hundred and twenty frames are obtained for each study. The range of the positions of the marker is divided into four groups, representing different respiratory phases. The frames in which the organ positions (phases) are the same summed to produce a static sub-sinogram. Each sub-sinogram then undergoes regular image reconstruction to yield a motion-free image. The technique is applied to one volunteer under both free and coached breathing conditions. A parameter called the volume reduction factor is adopted to evaluate the effectiveness of this motion-reduction technique. The preliminary results indicate that the proposed technique effectively reduces motion artifacts in the image. Coached breathing yields better results than free breathing condition. The advantages of this method are that (1) the scanning time remains the same; (2) free breathing is allowed during the acquisition of the image; and (3) no user intervention is required.

To improve the counting efficiency, modern positron emission tomography scanners generally perform 3D data acquisition with the septa retracted. As a consequence, the scatter fraction can surge to as high as 40%. Our previous method proposed the use of a beam stoppers (BS) device to directly measure the scatter and to remove it from the sinogram. The BS partially attenuate the primary radiation of certain lines of response (LOR) without affecting the scattering events. To measure the scatter, dual scans are performed with and without the device in place. This study proposes an improved method. The dual scans are performed with the device placed at two different locations. The proposed method reduces the effective sampling distance without the need to actually increase the stopper's number. The scatter component at the LOR blocked by each stopper can be estimated. Assuming that the scattered radiation has a spatially slow-varying distribution, the whole scattered sinogram can be recovered using interpolation from these local measurements. Once the scatter component is estimated, the sinogram of the primary radiation can be obtained by subtracting the scatter component from the original data. The scatter free image is then reconstructed from the primary sinogram. This method was applied to scanned data of two digital phantoms using the Simulation System for Emission Tomography simulation package to demonstrate its effectiveness. Preliminary results showed that this method has slightly better performance than the previous BS method and the conventional single scatter simulation technique with smaller mean squared error and less noise in the corrected image.

Introduction [ 123 I]-2-((2-((dimethylamino)methyl)phenyl)thio)-5-iodophenylamine ([ 123 I]ADAM), a novel radiotracer, has promising application in the imaging of the serotonin transporter (SERT) in the human brain. In this study, the optimal scanning time for acquiring brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images was determined by performing dynamic SPECT studies at intervals from 0 to 6 h postinjection of [ 123 I]ADAM. Additionally, radiation-absorbed doses were determined for three healthy human subjects using attenuation-corrected images. Methods Twelve subjects were randomized into one of three study groups as follows: whole-body distribution imaging ( n =3), dynamic SPECT imaging ( n =3) and brain SPECT imaging ( n =6). The radiation-absorbed dose was calculated using MIRDOSE 3.0 software with attenuation-corrected data. The specific binding (SB) ratio of the brain stem was measured from dynamic SPECT images to determine the optimal scanning time. Results Dynamic SPECT images showed that the SB of the brain stem gradually increased to a maximum 4 h postinjection. Single photon emission computed tomography images at 4 h postinjection showed a high uptake of the radiotracer (SB) in the hypothalamus (1.40±0.12), brain stem (1.44±0.16), pons (1.13±0.14) and medial temporal lobe (0.59±0.10). The mean adult male value of effective dose was 3.37×10 −2 mSv/MBq with a 4.8-h urine-voiding interval. Initial high uptake in SERT-rich sites was demonstrated in the lung and brain. A prominent washout of the radiotracer from the lung further increased brain radioactivity that reached a peak value of 5.03% of injected dose 40 min postinjection. Conclusions [ 123 I]ADAM is a promising radiotracer for SPECT imaging of SERT in humans with acceptable dosimetry and high uptake in SERT-rich regions. Brain SPECT images taken within 4 h following injection show optimal levels of radiotracer uptake in known SERT sites. However, dynamic changes in lung SERT distribution must be carefully evaluated.

Modern positron emission tomography scanners generally perform three-dimensional data collection without septa, which increases not only true coincidences but also scattered coincidences. In this study, a beam stopper (BS) device which is made of lead was used to estimate the scatter component in the PET sinogram. Scattered events were then directly measured from those lines of response blocked by stoppers. By assuming that the scatter distribution is a spatially slow-varying function, the scatter component can be recovered using the cubic-spline interpolation from the local measurements. Monte Carlo simulations of an abdomen phantom and the Zubal phantom were performed. Preliminary results demonstrated that the proposed BS method can improve image contrast and quantitative accuracy. Among different configurations, the BS device consisting of twelve lead stoppers with 3 mm radius yielded the optimal result compared to the other BS configurations. This BS method also outperformed the dual-energy window method up to 40% based on the mean squared error. The results indicated that the proposed BS method permits a direct, fast, and accurate scatter correction.

The purpose of this work is to study the feasibility of using a PEImager scanner in positron emission mammography (PEM). PEM was performed using two opposite block detectors of the PEImager without rotating. One projection image or several focal-plane images were obtained by dual-head imaging, because the number of line of response (LOR) to be reconstructed into tomograms by conventional sinogram-based reconstruction methods is limited. In this work, an iterative algebraic reconstruction was employed to reconstruct projection data to obtain a tomogram. The locations and sizes of hot spots in a breast phantom can be interpreted using such planar tomography, considering the efficiency of detector elements, attenuation and geometric factors. Spheres with diameters of 3 mm, 5 mm, 8 mm and 10 mm were inserted into a cylindrical phantom simulated tumors embedded in the background with different radioactivities, to evaluate the tumor detection capacity capability of tumor detection. For an 80-mm-depth phantom with a 20:1 tumor-to-normal tissue radioactivity ratio, a tumor with a diameter of 3 mm can be detected using planar tomography, while a 5-mm-diameter and 10-mm-diameter tumors can be detected in the ratios 10:1 and 5:1, respectively. The images of planar tomography have better contrast than focal-plane reconstruction, and have greater tumor-detection capacity ability.

An ectopically located gallbladder is rare and unusual. In this study, we described a case of a 52-year-old woman who underwent SPECT-myocardial perfusion imaging because of exertional dyspnea and chest tightness. The rest sinograms reveal 2 substantially increased tracer uptakes in the right chest. Subsequently, a SPECT/CT scan was performed to clarify the indeterminate findings on the SPECT-myocardial perfusion imaging. The coregistered SPECT/CT images depict intense focal activity in the right chest, which corresponds to the gallbladder on the CT scan, thus explaining the peculiar ectopic gallbladder finding.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans using [99mTc]TRODAT-1 can image dopamine transporters and provide valuable diagnostic information of PD. In this study, we optimized the scanning parameters for [99mTc]TRODAT-1/SPECT using the Taguchi analysis to improve image quality. SPECT scans were performed on forty-five healthy volunteers according to an L 9 orthogonal array. Three parameters were considered, including the injection activity, uptake duration, and acquisition time per projection. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was calculated from the striatum/occipital activity ratio as an image quality index. Ten healthy subjects and fifteen PD patients were used to verify the optimal parameters. The estimated optimal parameters were 962 MBq for [99mTc]TRODAT-1 injection, 260 min for uptake duration, and 60 s/projection for data acquisition. The uptake duration and time per projection were the two dominant factors which had an F-value of 18.638 (38%) and 25.933 (53%), respectively. Strong cross interactions existed between the injection activity/uptake duration and injection activity/time per projection. Therefore, under the consideration of as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) for radiation protection, we can decrease the injection activity to 740 MBq. The image quality remains almost the same for clinical applications.

With advances in therapeutic instruments and techniques, three-dimensional dose delivery has been widely used in radiotherapy. The verification of dose distribution in a small field becomes critical because of the obvious dose gradient within the field. The study investigates the dose distributions of various field sizes by using NIPAM polymer gel dosimeter. The dosimeter consists of 5% gelatin, 5% monomers, 3% cross linkers, and 5 mM THPC. After irradiation, a 24 to 96 hour delay was applied, and the gel dosimeters were read by a cone beam optical computed tomography (optical CT) scanner. The dose distributions measured by the NIPAM gel dosimeter were compared to the outputs of the treatment planning system using gamma evaluation. For the criteria of 3%/3 mm, the pass rates for 5 × 5, 3 × 3, 2 × 2, 1 × 1, and 0.5 × 0.5 cm2 were as high as 91.7%, 90.7%, 88.2%, 74.8%, and 37.3%, respectively. For the criteria of 5%/5 mm, the gamma pass rates of the 5 × 5, 3 × 3, and 2 × 2 cm2 fields were over 99%. The NIPAM gel dosimeter provides high chemical stability. With cone-beam optical CT readouts, the NIPAM polymer gel dosimeter has potential for clinical dose verification of small-field irradiation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare two screening methods, total score of the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASIT) and the combined score for the short-term memory and orientation domains (CASIR) for screening and grading probable Alzheimer's disease (AD), based on their correlations with voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Materials and methods: Forty-five subjects with probable AD and normal controls underwent magnetic resonance imaging and CASI testing. Their corresponding T1-weighted magnetic resonance images were analyzed using VBM. Results: VBM results showed that in moderate-to-severe AD subgroups, significant wholebrain gray matter loss was detected using both CASIT and CASIR. Significantly more voxels were detected using the CASIT compared with the CASIR system in mild AD subjects (Pb.05). Conclusions: Based on their correlations with VBM results, there is no significant difference for CASIR and CASIT for grading moderate-to-severe AD subgroups, and CASIR scoring system may be more accurate and effective than the CASIT for screening mild AD.

Fully three-dimensional (3D) positron emission tomography (PET) can achieve high sensitivity of coincidence events, but the absence of inter-slice septa inevitably leads to increased scattered events. The scattered events can represent as much as 50% of the total detected events. In this research, we proposed a scatter correction method for 3D PET based on beam stoppers and dual-energy window acquisition. The beam stoppers were placed surrounding the object to attenuate primary beams. The scatter fractions were directly estimated at those blocked lines of response and then the entire scatter fraction distribution was recovered using the dual-energy window ratio as reference. The performance was evaluated by using Monte Carlo simulations of various digital phantoms. For the Utah phantom study, the proposed method accurately estimated the scatter fraction distribution, and improved image contrast and quantification based on four different quality indices as performance measures. For the non-homogeneous Zubal phantom, the simulated results also demonstrated that the proposed method achieved a better restoration of image contrast than the dual-energy window method. We conclude that the proposed scatter correction method could effectively suppress various kinds of scattered events, including multiple scatter and scatter from outside the field of view.

Micro positron emission tomography (PET) and micro single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), used for imaging small animals, have become essential tools in developing new pharmaceuticals and can be used, among other things, to test new therapeutic approaches in animal models of human disease, as well as to image gene expression. These imaging techniques can be used noninvasively in both detection and quantification. However, functional images provide little information on the structure of tissues and organs, which makes the localization of lesions difficult. Image fusion techniques can be exploited to map the functional images to structural images, such as X-ray computed tomography (CT), to support target identification and to facilitate the interpretation of PET or SPECT studies. Furthermore, the mapping of two functional images of SPECT and PET on a structural CT image can be beneficial for those in vivo studies that require two biological processes to be monitored simultaneously. This paper proposes an automated method for registering PET, CT, and SPECT images for small animals. A calibration phantom and a holder were used to determine the relationship among three-dimensional fields of view of various modalities. The holder was arranged in fixed positions on the couches of the scanners, and the spatial transformation matrix between the modalities was held unchanged. As long as objects were scanned together with the holder, the predetermined matrix could register the acquired tomograms from different modalities, independently of the imaged objects. In this work, the PET scan was performed by Concorde's microPET R4 scanner, and the SPECT and CT data were obtained using the Gamma Medica's X-SPECT/CT system. Fusion studies on phantoms and animals have been successfully performed using this method. For microPET-CT fusion, the maximum registration errors were 0.21 mm /spl plusmn/ 0.14 mm, 0.26 mm /spl plusmn/ 0.14 mm, and 0.45 mm /spl plusmn/ 0.34 mm in the X (right-left), Y (upper lower), and Z (rostral-caudal) directions, respectively; for the microPET-SPECT fusion, they were 0.24 mm /spl plusmn/ 0.14 mm, 0.28 mm /spl plusmn/ 0.15 mm, and 0.54 mm /spl plusmn/ 0.35 mm in the X, Y, and Z directions, respectively. The results indicate that this simple method can be used in routine fusion studies.

Objective This study compared the adequacy of dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and micro computed tomography (micro-CT) in evaluating the structural parameters of trabecular bones. Methods The cellular synthetic bones in 4 density groups (Groups 1–4: 0.12, 0.16, 0.20, and 0.32 g/cm3) were used in this study. Each group comprised 8 experimental specimens that were approximately 1 cm3. Dental CBCT and micro-CT scans were conducted on each specimen to obtain independent measurements of the following 4 trabecular bone structural parameters: bone volume fraction (BV/TV), specific bone surface (BS/BV), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th.), and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp.). Wilcoxon signed ranks tests were used to compare the measurement variations between the dental CBCT and micro-CT scans. A Spearman analysis was conducted to calculate the correlation coefficients (r) of the dental CBCT and micro-CT measurements. Results and Conclusion Of the 4 groups, the BV/TV and Tb.Th. measured using dental CBCT were larger compared with those measured using micro-CT. By contrast, the BS/BV measured using dental CBCT was significantly less compared with those measured using micro-CT. Furthermore, in the low-density groups (Groups 1 and 2), the Tb.Sp. measured using dental CBCT was smaller compared with those measured using micro-CT. However, the Tb.Sp. measured using dental CBCT was slightly larger in the high-density groups (Groups 3 and 4) than it was in the low density groups. The correlation coefficients between the BV/TV, BS/BV, Tb.Th., and Tb.Sp. values measured using dental CBCT and micro-CT were 0.9296 (p