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Technologist AbstractsTechnologist Posters |
1 Diagnostic Radiology, Division of Nuclear Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
2105
Objectives: Hepatobiliary imaging is a routine part of most nuclear medicine departments. However, there are pitfalls in planar imaging when superimposed bowel loops obscure gallbladder visualization. The objective was to implement a SPECT/CT acquisition and processing protocol in the evaluation of cholecystic disease. SPECT /CT is utilized for problem solving of difficult cases in our institution and has been found to improve the diagnostic accuracy of the study in selected circumstances.
Methods: A standard planar protocol was performed augmented with SPECT/CT. The acquired CT data was processed with varying algorithms to optimize bone, lung and soft tissue structures. This was compared with post-process windowing on CT. The SPECT images were processed with both an iterative and filtered back projection protocol. Attenuation correction was also applied.
Results: There is a substantive difference between post-process windowing on CT and optimizing the image data set with processing algorithms. Examples of lung, soft tissue and bone related pathology were better delineated when the data was processed with the tissue specific CT algorithm. The SPECT data set processed with AC and without AC as well as iterative and FBP. Although the attenuation correction did improve image quality it did not appear to affect the diagnostic quality of the examination.
Conclusions: SPECT/CT can be useful in improving diagnostic accuracy in problematic hepatobiliary studies. However, the added dimension of CT requires additional processing to optimize the CT component of the study. Appropriately processed CT images improve visualization of anatomic structures and associated pathology.
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