Synergistic Triple Modality PET/SPECT/CT Reconstruction for Early Detection and Treatment of Cancer

1) Brief description of the context of the research including potential impact

PET/CT & SPECT/CT imaging is used widely in the diagnosis of cancer, inflammation, infection, calcification and for the evaluation of treatment efficacy. SPECT/CT & PET/CT scans are routinely performed, and the data reconstructed, separately. Mediso has created the first triple-modality scanner, AnyScan. This device will not only improve patient experience by reducing the number of separate scans required for diagnosis/treatment but will provide the opportunity to image using different modalities with near-identical patient setup and small temporal variations in tracer uptake / patient physiology.

This concurrent multi-modality imaging will allow image data to be synergistically reconstructed using information from different modalities into the same image. The increased amount of input data will allow for improvements in image reconstruction. The same thinking could be applied to images taken non-concurrently in order to produce combined images containing more clinical data and better resolution than when reconstructed separately.

The impact of improving the reconstructed image quality will be to help the early detection and evaluation of disease, as well as improve the ability to monitor treatment therapy. This will result in improved patient outcome. Any improvements in clinical workflow resulting from reductions in image reconstruction time will mean that patient throughput can be improved, saving centres time and money.

2) Aims and Objectives

This project aims to use information from PET/SPECT/CT scans obtained simultaneously using a triple modality scanner, as well as on dual-modality scanners acquired at different time points. The project will develop and test reconstruction methods using the data from these multiple modalities in order to improve the images produced from clinical scans.

Using multi-modalities has the capacity to improve the accuracy and precision of imaging, as well as reduce the time needed for reconstruction. This will result in more accurate diagnosis and tracking of therapy, improving patient outcome, as well as improve workflow in a clinical environment.

The suitability of the reconstruction methods will be tested by making use of the NPL's lab facilities (which contain a triple-modality imager) using patient phantoms containing varying concentrations, types and distributions of radiotracers.

3) Novelty of Research Methodology
Synergistic reconstruction will fully utilise data from PET/SPECT/CT images for the first time. The research will use PET/SPECT/CT obtained from the first triple modality imager of its kind. The reconstruction methods developed will help to improve the theragnostic capabilities of this new device and even improve the amount and quality of information obtained from non-concurrent scans, which would previously have to have been reconstructed separately and then the images fused.

4) Alignment to EPSRC's strategies and research areas
This project will optimise treatment through novel computational science, improving the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as cancer.

5) Any companies or collaborators involved
National Physics Laboratory, Mediso LTD