Molecular imaging of small animals PET using Monte Carlo Simulations

Susana Branco; Sébastien Jan; Pedro Almeida

Susana Branco Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica da Faculdade de Ciências Universidade de Lisboa
Sébastien Jan Service Hospitalier Frédéric Joliot du Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique
Pedro Almeida Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica da Faculdade de Ciências Universidade de Lisboa

Resumo

This work is based on the use of a simulation system dedicated for small animal PET imaging. GATE, a Monte Carlo simulation platform based on the Geant4 libraries, is well suited for modelling microPET systems like the microPET® FOCUS 220 and to implement realistic phantoms, such as the MOBY phantom, and radioactive distribution maps obtained from real exams. We used the validated microPET® FOCUS 220 simulation model, with GATE, to produce real simulated PET mouse exams. Results from simulated real studies of the mouse body using [18F] fluoride and the 2-Deoxy-[18F] fluoro-D-glucose (FDG) imaging protocols are presented. These simulations include the injections of real radioactive doses into the animal and the use of real time frames. We also simulate the respiratory mouse motion during an FDG PET exam using the model proposed in the dynamic MOBY phantom. The qualitative and quantitative results from simulated data are in good agreement with the experimental data.