Tomographic performance characteristics of the IQ●SPECT system

The IQ·SPECT system was introduced by Siemens in 2010 to significantly improve the efficiency of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) using conventional, large field-of-view (FOV) SPECT and SPECT·CT systems. With IQ·SPECT, it is possible to perform MPI scans in one-fourth the time or using one-fourth the administered dose as compared to a standard protocol using parallel-hole collimators. This improvement is achieved by means of a proprietary multifocal collimator that rotates around the patient in a cardio-centric orbit resulting in a four-fold magnification of the heart while keeping the entire torso in the FOV. The data are reconstructed using an advanced reconstruction algorithm that incorporates measured values for gantry deflections, collimator-hole angles, and system point response function. This article explores the boundary conditions of IQ·SPECT imaging, as measured using the Data Spectrum^® cardiac torso phantom with the cardiac insert. Impact on reconstructed image quality was evaluated for variations in positioning of the myocardium relative to the sweet spot, scan-arc limitations, and for low-dose imaging protocols. Reconstructed image quality was assessed visually using the INVIA 4DMSPECT and quantitatively using Siemens internal IQ assessment software. The results indicated that the IQ·SPECT system is capable of tolerating possible mispositioning of the myocardium relative to the sweet spot by the operator, and that no artifacts are introduced by the limited angle coverage. We also found from the study of multiple low dose protocols that the dwell time will need to be adjusted in order to acquire data with sufficient signal-to-noise ratio for good reconstructed image quality.