A generalized method of converting CT image to PET linear attenuation coefficient distribution in PET/CT imaging

The accuracy of attenuation correction in positron emission tomography scanners depends mainly on deriving the reliable 511-keV linear attenuation coefficient distribution in the scanned objects. In the PET/CT system, the linear attenu- ation distribution is usually obtained from the intensities of the CT image. However, the intensities of the CT image relate to the attenuation of photons in an energy range of 40 keV-140 keV. Before implementing PET attenuation correction, the intensities of CT images must be transformed into the PET 511-keV linear attenuation coefficients. However, the CT scan parameters can affect the effective energy of CT X-ray photons and thus affect the intensities of the CT image. Therefore, for PET/CT attenuation correction, it is crucial to determine the conversion curve with a given set of CT scan parameters and convert the CT image into a PET linear attenuation coefficient distribution. A generalized method is proposed for con- verting a CT image into a PET linear attenuation coefficient distribution. Instead of some parameter-dependent phantom calibration experiments, the conversion curve is calculated directly by employing the consistency conditions to yield the most consistent attenuation map with the measured PET data. The method is evaluated with phantom experiments and small animal experiments. In phantom studies, the estimated conversion curve fits the true attenuation coefficients accurately, and accurate PET attenuation maps are obtained by the estimated conversion curves and provide nearly the same correction results as the true attenuation map. In small animal studies, a more complicated attenuation distribution of the mouse is obtained successfully to remove the attenuation artifact and improve the PET image contrast efficiently.

Study the Attenuation Coefficient of Granite to Use It as Shields against Gamma Ray

The present work investigates the linear and mass attenuation coefficients for gamma rays practically and theoretically by using spectroscopy gamma ray (UCS-20) and program (XCOM)) for various types of common use granite, and compares them with the lead because of its high blocking ability for this type of radiation. This paper concluded through linear and mass attenuation coefficients measurements that these coefficients decrease with increasing incident photons energy. Measurements also showed that the linear attenuation coefficients appropriate linearly with density while mass attenuation coefficients do not get affected.

Determination of gamma ray spectrometry efficiency for the attenuation coefficients of some bismuth borate glasses by MCNP and(ISOCS)techniques

Background Radiation detection has been a main interest for researchers as all kind of produced particles in atomic and subatomic physics based on the measurement systems so-called detector.Detection efficiency is one of the main parameters in detection system besides many other different parameters of the detector.The detector in experimental physics is an instrument that converts radiation energy into an electrical signal,and this is achieved basically by either ionization or excitation.The choice for any type of a detector(gas-filled,scintillation or semiconductor)for any application depends upon the X-ray of gamma energy range of interest.A working model is therefore developed which is capable of describing the overall NaI(Tl)detection efficiency as a function of several known parameters.Purpose The attenuation coefficients for the bismuth borate glasses with different concentrations were measured using gamma spectroscopy technique.The numerical absolute efficiency calibration of a detector can be determined by In-Situ Object Calibration Software(ISOCS)and Monte Carlo Neutral Particle version 5(MCNP5)techniques which does not require any calibration standards or reference materials.Methods By using the ISOCS and MCNP5 methodologies,the full energy peak efficiency of a scintillator detector(3“X3”NaI(Tl))exposed to Co-60 and Cs-137 gamma ray sources with average accuracy range 0.126–1.224%for the used samples can be detected.The used materials are ternary and are located between the detector and the source to determine the attenuation coefficients for these samples by using the calculated full energy peak efficiencies of a detector.Results The average accuracy ranged from−1.808 to 1.960%for linear attenuation coefficient(μ),while it ranged from−1.999 to 1.888%and from−1.924 to 1.960%for half value layer(HVL)and mass linear attenuation coefficient(μm),respectively.Conclusion The calculated values of the absolute full energy peak efficiency have been used to determine the attenuation coefficients of materials with different concentrations and different densities.The results proved the validation of ISOCS and MCNP to determine the absolute full energy peak efficiency of the detector which can be used to determine the attenuation coefficients for the simulated samples and it is a good tool to be used when experimental methods are not available.

Dual Energy CT Imaging in Cone-Beam Micro-CT for Improved Attenuation Coefficient Measurement

In order to improve micro-CT＇s capability of accurate quantification of linear attenuation coefficient μ, a dual energy method was developed to correct beam hardening artifacts caused by the polychromatic spectra of X-ray tubes. In this method, two sets of scans, taken at different energy levels, were combined to create a synthetic monochromatic image. A physical polychromatic model of μ in dual energy imaging was developed with an iterative method to solve the model for a few selected pixels. To find a high-speed and effective computing approach, the physics model was approximated by a polynomial function of the measured intensities. The method was tested on a PMMA-aluminum phantom and CaCI2 admixtures. The results show that streak and cupping artifacts are completely eliminated and that the measurement of the reconstructed attenuation coefficient μ is observed to be over 95% accurate.