Assessment of a high-resolution candidate detector for prostate time-of-flight positron emission tomography

TL;DR

This paper evaluates a high-resolution, MRI-compatible TOF-PET detector for prostate imaging, demonstrating promising timing and depth resolution capabilities suitable for prototype development.

Contribution

It introduces a novel detector element with depth-of-interaction sensitivity and high timing resolution for prostate TOF-PET imaging.

Findings

Achieved 400 ps coincidence resolving time

Depth-of-interaction resolution of 1 mm

Suitable for prototype prostate PET probe

Abstract

We report on the measurements performed using a 22Na source on a detector element for an MRI-compatible TOF-PET endorectal prostate probe, with Depth-Of-Interaction sensitivity. It is made from a LYSO scintillator crystal, wrapped with Lumirror, readout at both ends by means of Silicon Photomultipliers. With a detailed description of the data analysis procedure we show that our results point to a 400 ps coincidence resolving time and, at the same time, to a Depth-Of-Interaction resolution of 1 mm. These appealing features, along with the tiny 1.5 mm x 1.5 mm x 10 mm crystal size, are quite promising in view of the realization of a prototype probe.