PET Scanning, like all other modalities of imaging equipment, has made strides in improving diagnostic accuracy. The biggest step in that direction for PET has been the development and proliferation of Time-of-Flight technology.
Are you using PET systems that are 10 years old or older? Do you have a newer system that doesn’t have time-of-flight option enabled? There are several benefits of having time-of-flight that you should know as you consider upgrading your equipment.
Get Better Image Quality With Time-of-Flight
Time-of-Flight measures the time it takes for photons to go from the point of annihilation to the detectors. This gives the PET scanner a higher resolution image, which makes it more accurate.
When it comes to conventional PET imaging, a positron annihilation is recognized along a 180° line of response instead of at the actual location of the event. The PET Scanner will calculate the location of the positron annihilation by measuring the angles based on a point in the 180° angle of incidence.
To simplify, the computer can tell where the actual origin point of the positron annihilation is by calculating the intersecting 180° lines.
The photons that are released during a PET scan strike the detectors at almost the same time, but not exactly. They’re usually differentiated by measuring the fall-off or attenuation of the signal. As the positron works its way through body mass, this attenuation occurs naturally. The highest attenuation occurs at the thickest parts of the anatomy.
Radiologists and oncologists use a lot of computers and software to analyze the attenuation. This allows them to get a good idea of where the positron annihilation event and the targeted mass or anatomical region are.
Keep in mind with conventional PET imaging, the photons strike the detectors almost at the same time and not exactly at the same time
With Time-of-Flight technology, measurement is taken a step further. ToF measures both the distance and attenuation of photons but also adds the actual time difference between the detecting of photons release during coincident events to the algorithm. This identifies the distance from the annihilation event to the detector more accurately.
The Benefits Of Time-of-Flight
- Higher Image Quality
- More Accurate Detection Of Masses And Lesions
- Better For Large Patients
- Easier To Declare A More Definitive Diagnosis and Pursue Treatment
Time-Of-Flight Manufacturers
- Philips (since 2006)
- GE (since 2008)
- Siemens (since 2010)
As a rule, only Philips TOF systems are available on the secondary market right now.
Talk To An Expert
Are you ready to start the conversion process for a Time-of-Flight PET Scanner? If so, talk to the experts at Atlantis Worldwide. We’ve been helping healthcare practices and facilities with their medical imaging needs for more than 30 years and would love to assist you.
Follow Atlantis Worldwide on Twitter: @AtlantisLLC
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Meet the author: Vikki Harmonay
