Imaging Performance of a dedicated Breast-PET-DBT scanner

A multi-modality dedicated breast scanner which combines a high spatial resolution dedicated PET scanner (BPET) and DBT has been developed. Phantom measurements demonstrate the BPET scanner to have an in-plane spatial resolution of <2mm and improved quantification of sub-cm lesions in comparison with whole-body PET scanners. Measurements also suggest adequate count-rate capability to support an imaging scan time of 2-5 mins. The scanner will be useful for imaging molecular features in primary breast cancer and will provide intrinsically co-registered anatomic features depicted by DBT. The availability of new PET tracers like ¹⁸ FES will make the BPET-DBT scanner helpful in a number of areas related to breast cancer treatment and management. Detailed performance characterization and imaging capability assessment of this multi-modality scanner using relevant phantom studies, as well as its application in a pilot clinical research patient imaging will be presented.