Influence of CT metal artifact reduction on SPECT/CT quantification of bone scintigraphy - Retrospective study for selected types of metal implants.

Aim: Implanted metal prostheses can cause severe artifacts in reconstructed computed tomography (CT) images. To reduce the diagnostic impact of these artifacts and improve attenuation correction in single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), an algorithm of iterative metal artifact reduction (iMAR) for SPECT/CT systems was developed. The aims of this study were (a) to assess the difference in visual image quality by comparing CT and SPECT images reconstructed with and without iMAR and (b) to determine the influence of iMAR on quantitative Tc-uptake in SPECT/CT.

The magnitude of the partial volume effect in SPECT imaging of the kidneys: a phantom study.

Background: Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) can cause an over- or underestimation of tissue activity concentration due to limitations in spatial resolution compared to the structures under study. This is commonly referred to as partial volume effect (PVE). Ideally, the PVE should be controlled for and corrected.