Image quantification in high-resolution PET assessed with a new anthropomorphic brain phantom

Choice of the PET scanner and image reconstruction parameters have significant impact in quantitative positron-emission tomography (PET). Hoffman phantom is probably the most widely used test object for assessing this impact in brain PET studies. In high-resolution PET, however, it's usability is questionable due to lesser partial-volume effect. Futhermore, Hoffman phantom is cylindrical and does not offer realistic attenuation effect for the skull. In the current work we used a novel brain phantom that was produced using a 3D-printer, and provides realistic head contour and skull attenuation effect. We scanned the phantom with latest generation whole-body PET/MR (Philips Ingenuity TF) and PET/CT (GE Discovery 690) scanners and in a brain dedicated high-resolution scanner (Siemens HRRT) to evaluate it's usability for intra- and inter-scanner comparisons with regard to PET brain imaging.