Development and evaluation of QSPECT open-source software for the iterative reconstruction of SPECT images

Loudos, GK; Papadimitroulas, P; Zotos, P; Tsougos, I; Georgoulias, P

dc.contributor.author	Loudos, GK	en
dc.contributor.author	Papadimitroulas, P	en
dc.contributor.author	Zotos, P	en
dc.contributor.author	Tsougos, I	en
dc.contributor.author	Georgoulias, P	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-03-01T01:33:08Z
dc.date.available	2014-03-01T01:33:08Z
dc.date.issued	2010	en
dc.identifier.issn	0143-3636	en
dc.identifier.uri	https://dspace.lib.ntua.gr/xmlui/handle/123456789/20344
dc.subject	Iterative reconstruction	en
dc.subject	Maximum likelihood expectation maximization	en
dc.subject	Open-source software	en
dc.subject	Ordered subsets expectation maximization	en
dc.subject	Qt toolkit	en
dc.subject	Single-photon emission computed tomography reconstruction	en
dc.subject.classification	Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging	en
dc.subject.other	algorithm	en
dc.subject.other	article	en
dc.subject.other	cardiovascular system	en
dc.subject.other	computer program	en
dc.subject.other	image analysis	en
dc.subject.other	image reconstruction	en
dc.subject.other	quantitative analysis	en
dc.subject.other	single photon emission computer tomography	en
dc.subject.other	Heart	en
dc.subject.other	Humans	en
dc.subject.other	Image Processing, Computer-Assisted	en
dc.subject.other	Scattering, Radiation	en
dc.subject.other	Software	en
dc.subject.other	Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon	en
dc.title	Development and evaluation of QSPECT open-source software for the iterative reconstruction of SPECT images	en
heal.type	journalArticle	en
heal.identifier.primary	10.1097/MNM.0b013e32833841e8	en
heal.identifier.secondary	http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MNM.0b013e32833841e8	en
heal.language	English	en
heal.publicationDate	2010	en
heal.abstract	Objective In this study open-source software (QSPECT) suitable for the iterative reconstruction of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) data is presented. QSPECT implements maximum likelihood expectation maximization and ordered subsets expectation maximization algorithms in a user-friendly graphical interface. The software functionality is described and validation results are presented. Methods Maximum likelihood expectation maximization and ordered subsets expectation maximization algorithms are implemented in C++. The Qt toolkit, a standard C++ framework for developing high-performance cross-platform applications, has been used for the graphical user interface development. QSPECT is tested using original projection data from two clinical SPECT systems: (i) APEX SPX-6/6HR and (ii) Millennium MG. Phantom experiments were carried out to evaluate the quality of reconstructed images in terms of (i) spatial resolution, (ii) sensitivity to activity variations, and (iii) the presence of scatter media. A cardiac phantom was used to simulate a normal and abnormal scenario. Finally, clinical cardiac SPECT images were reconstructed. In all cases, QSPECT results were compared with the clinical systems reconstruction software that uses the standard filtered backprojection algorithm. Results The reconstructed images show that QSPECT, when compared with standard clinical reconstruction, provides images with higher contrast, reduced background, and better separation of small sources located in small distances. In addition, reconstruction with QSPECT provides more quantitative images, and reduces the background created by scatter media. Finally, the phantom and clinical cardiac images are reconstructed with similar quality. Conclusion QSPECT is a freely distributed, open-source standalone application that provides real-time, high-quality SPECT images. The software can be further modified to improve reconstruction algorithms, and include more correction techniques, such as, scatter and attenuation correction. Nucl Med Commun 31: 558-566 (C) 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health \| Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.	en
heal.publisher	LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS	en
heal.journalName	Nuclear Medicine Communications	en
dc.identifier.doi	10.1097/MNM.0b013e32833841e8	en
dc.identifier.isi	ISI:000277768700014	en
dc.identifier.volume	31	en
dc.identifier.issue	6	en
dc.identifier.spage	558	en
dc.identifier.epage	566	en