Development of a PET/EPRI combined imaging system for assessing tumor hypoxia. (19th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, H.; Epel, B.; Sundramoorthy, S.; Tsai, H.-M.; Barth, E.; Gertsenshteyn, I.; Halpern, H.; Hua, Y.; Xie, Q.; Chen, C.-T.; Kao, C.-M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of instrumentation. Volume 16:Number 3(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-03-19
• Subjects: Multi-modality systems -- Gamma camera, SPECT, PET PET/CT, coronary CT angiography (CTA); Scientific apparatus and instruments -- Periodicals; 502.84
• DOI: 10.1088/1748-0221/16/03/P03031
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1748-0221

Abstract

Abstract: Precise quantitative delineation of tumor hypoxia is essential in radiation therapy treatment planning to improve the treatment efficacy by targeting hypoxic sub-volumes. We developed a combined imaging system of positron emission tomography (PET) and electron para-magnetic resonance imaging (EPRI) of molecular oxygen to investigate the accuracy of PET imaging in assessing tumor hypoxia. The PET/EPRI combined imaging system aims to use EPRI to precisely measure the oxygen partial pressure in tissues. This will evaluate the validity of PET hypoxic tumor imaging by (near) simultaneously acquired EPRI as ground truth. The combined imaging system was constructed by integrating a small animal PET scanner (inner ring diameter 62 mm and axial field of view 25.6 mm) and an EPRI subsystem (field strength 25 mT and resonant frequency 700 MHz). The compatibility between the PET and EPRI subsystems were tested with both phantom and animal imaging. Hypoxic imaging on a tumor mouse model using 18 F-fluoromisonidazole radio-tracer was conducted with the developed PET/EPRI system. We report the development and initial imaging results obtained from the PET/EPRI combined imaging system.