Enhancing Liver SPECT Image Quality: A Novel Approach to Mitigate Respiratory Motion Artifacts
Résumé
Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography
(SPECT) imaging is pivotal for medical diagnosis, providing
crucial insights into a patient’s health. This medical imaging
technique produces 3D images of a radioactive tracer’s distri-
bution in the body, detected by a gamma camera. SPECT is
used to visualize physiological processes in organs, diagnosing
various diseases, thus providing essential functional information.
However, interpreting SPECT images just like other medical
imaging results of organs near the lungs often encounters
challenges due to artifacts induced by respiratory motion, leading
to image noise and compromised quality.
This study aims to enhance SPECT image clarity and fidelity
for organs near the lungs using center of gravity estimation and
event avoidance methods. By tracking respiratory movements
with a motion camera, image clarity is refined. Additionally,
methods to enhance image quality without the motion camera
are explored. Calculating the barycenter allows for more accurate
organ positioning within specific timeframes, while eliminating
motion in others streamlines events. The amalgamation of these
methods results in a notable reduction in motion artifacts and
image blurring, with motion-corrected images exhibiting superior
delineation of structures compared to uncorrected ones. This
process is helpful for the surgeon targeting the injection.