J. Dvořák, J. Boldyš, M. Skopalová, O. Bělohlávek (2013)

Application of the random field theory in PET imaging - injection dose optimization

Kybernetika 49 (2), 280-300.

Abstract

This work presents new application of the random field theory in medical imaging. Results from both integral geometry and random field theory can be used to detect locations with significantly increased radiotracer uptake in images from positron emission tomography (PET). The assumptions needed to use these results are verified on a set of real and simulated phantom images.

The proposed method of detecting activation (locations with increased radiotracer concentration) is used to quantify the quality of simulated PET images. Dependence of the quality on the amount of applied radiotracer and patient’s body parameters is estimated. It is used to derive curves of constant quality determining the amount of radiotracer needed to achieve desired quality of the resulting images. The curves are compared with the formula currently used in medical practice.

Keywords

random field theory, Euler characteristic, PET imaging, quality of PET images