PET/CT acceptance testing and quality assurance: Executive summary of AAPM Task Group 126 Report

Benjamin P. Lopez; David W. Jordan; Brad J. Kemp; Paul E. Kinahan; Charles R. Schmidtlein; Osama R. Mawlawi

doi:10.1002/mp.14656

PET/CT acceptance testing and quality assurance: Executive summary of AAPM Task Group 126 Report

Benjamin P. Lopez, David W. Jordan, Brad J. Kemp, Paul E. Kinahan, Charles R. Schmidtlein, Osama R. Mawlawi

Imaging Physics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: A Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography quality assurance program is necessary to ensure that patients receive optimal imaging and care. We summarize the AAPM Task Group (TG) 126 report on acceptance and quality assurance (QA) testing of PET/CT systems. Methods: TG 126 was charged with developing PET/CT acceptance testing and QA procedures. The TG aimed to develop procedures that would allow for standardized evaluation of existing short-axis cylindrical-bore PET/CT systems in the spirit of NEMA NU 2 standards without requiring specialized phantoms or proprietary software tools. Results: We outline eight performance evaluations using common phantoms and freely available software whereby the clinical physicist monitors each PET/CT system by comparing periodic Follow-Up Measurements to Baseline Measurements acquired during acceptance testing. For each of the eight evaluations, we also summarize the expected testing time and materials necessary and the recommended pass/fail criteria. Conclusion: Our report provides a guideline for periodic evaluations of most clinical PET/CT systems that simplifies procedures and requirements outlined by other agencies and will facilitate performance comparisons across vendors, models, and institutions.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	e31-e35
Journal	Medical physics
Volume	48
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/mp.14656
State	Published - Feb 2021

Keywords

PET
PET/CT
acceptance testing
quality assurance

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Biophysics
Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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10.1002/mp.14656

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title = "PET/CT acceptance testing and quality assurance: Executive summary of AAPM Task Group 126 Report",

abstract = "Purpose: A Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography quality assurance program is necessary to ensure that patients receive optimal imaging and care. We summarize the AAPM Task Group (TG) 126 report on acceptance and quality assurance (QA) testing of PET/CT systems. Methods: TG 126 was charged with developing PET/CT acceptance testing and QA procedures. The TG aimed to develop procedures that would allow for standardized evaluation of existing short-axis cylindrical-bore PET/CT systems in the spirit of NEMA NU 2 standards without requiring specialized phantoms or proprietary software tools. Results: We outline eight performance evaluations using common phantoms and freely available software whereby the clinical physicist monitors each PET/CT system by comparing periodic Follow-Up Measurements to Baseline Measurements acquired during acceptance testing. For each of the eight evaluations, we also summarize the expected testing time and materials necessary and the recommended pass/fail criteria. Conclusion: Our report provides a guideline for periodic evaluations of most clinical PET/CT systems that simplifies procedures and requirements outlined by other agencies and will facilitate performance comparisons across vendors, models, and institutions.",

keywords = "PET, PET/CT, acceptance testing, quality assurance",

author = "Lopez, {Benjamin P.} and Jordan, {David W.} and Kemp, {Brad J.} and Kinahan, {Paul E.} and Schmidtlein, {Charles R.} and Mawlawi, {Osama R.}",

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year = "2021",

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doi = "10.1002/mp.14656",

language = "English (US)",

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AU - Jordan, David W.

AU - Kemp, Brad J.

AU - Kinahan, Paul E.

AU - Schmidtlein, Charles R.

AU - Mawlawi, Osama R.

PY - 2021/2

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N2 - Purpose: A Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography quality assurance program is necessary to ensure that patients receive optimal imaging and care. We summarize the AAPM Task Group (TG) 126 report on acceptance and quality assurance (QA) testing of PET/CT systems. Methods: TG 126 was charged with developing PET/CT acceptance testing and QA procedures. The TG aimed to develop procedures that would allow for standardized evaluation of existing short-axis cylindrical-bore PET/CT systems in the spirit of NEMA NU 2 standards without requiring specialized phantoms or proprietary software tools. Results: We outline eight performance evaluations using common phantoms and freely available software whereby the clinical physicist monitors each PET/CT system by comparing periodic Follow-Up Measurements to Baseline Measurements acquired during acceptance testing. For each of the eight evaluations, we also summarize the expected testing time and materials necessary and the recommended pass/fail criteria. Conclusion: Our report provides a guideline for periodic evaluations of most clinical PET/CT systems that simplifies procedures and requirements outlined by other agencies and will facilitate performance comparisons across vendors, models, and institutions.

AB - Purpose: A Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography quality assurance program is necessary to ensure that patients receive optimal imaging and care. We summarize the AAPM Task Group (TG) 126 report on acceptance and quality assurance (QA) testing of PET/CT systems. Methods: TG 126 was charged with developing PET/CT acceptance testing and QA procedures. The TG aimed to develop procedures that would allow for standardized evaluation of existing short-axis cylindrical-bore PET/CT systems in the spirit of NEMA NU 2 standards without requiring specialized phantoms or proprietary software tools. Results: We outline eight performance evaluations using common phantoms and freely available software whereby the clinical physicist monitors each PET/CT system by comparing periodic Follow-Up Measurements to Baseline Measurements acquired during acceptance testing. For each of the eight evaluations, we also summarize the expected testing time and materials necessary and the recommended pass/fail criteria. Conclusion: Our report provides a guideline for periodic evaluations of most clinical PET/CT systems that simplifies procedures and requirements outlined by other agencies and will facilitate performance comparisons across vendors, models, and institutions.

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KW - PET/CT

KW - acceptance testing

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PET/CT acceptance testing and quality assurance: Executive summary of AAPM Task Group 126 Report

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Keywords

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