Annihilation density distribution calculations for medically important positron emitters

• Published in: IEEE transactions on medical imaging Vol. 11; no. 3; pp. 373 - 378
• Main Authors: Palmer, M.R., Brownell, G.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 1992; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical imaging; Cameras; Distribution functions; Energy resolution; Image resolution; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Isotopes; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous. Technology; Positrons; Predictive models; Radionuclide investigations; Thickness measurement; Tomography; Radionuclide study; Annihilation; Positron emitter; Calculation; Radioisotope; Density distribution; Modeling; Spatial resolution; Positron emission tomography; Positron
• ISSN: 0278-0062; 1558-254X
• DOI: 10.1109/42.158941

The effect of positron range on the image-plane resolution of tomographic images is evaluated through calculations based on a model which employs beta-decay energy spectra and an empirical range formula. Predicted range distribution functions are compared with published measurements for three medically important positron emitters: /sup 11/C, /sup 68/Ga, and /sup 82/Rb. The effect of tomographic slice thickness on point-source annihilation distribution functions is also demonstrated. Line-spread functions are calculated using the model, for the above isotopes as well as for /sup 18/F, /sup 15/O, and /sup 13/N. Image-plane resolution predictions are made for high-resolution positron cameras for various positron emitting isotopes with end-point energies up to 4 MeV.< >