Analysis of different detector and electronics defects on F18-FDG images

The effect of malfunctioning detector blocks on accuracy of PET reconstructed images was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively, by using the ECAT EXACT HR+ scanner. A procedure to simulate defective block was carried out after analyzing and comparing blank scans obtained with detection system in good operation with those having some faulty block detectors. Different levels of detector damages were simulated and tested with phantom studies. The obtained results allowed to better identify type and entity of the artifact expected on reconstructed data and then to know cases of malfunctioning blocks that really need to stop clinical activity