Positron Emission Tomography/Magnetic Resonance Imaging (PET/MRI) represents a potent instrument for brain imaging. However, the current spatial resolution of PET scanners utilized for brain imaging leaves room for enhancement in order to bolster the quantitative precision of brain PET imaging. 

In a recent study, a team of researchers led by Professors ZHENG Hairong and YANG Yongfeng at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have successfully pioneered the development of an MR-compatible brain PET scanner, referred to as the SIAT bPET. What sets the SIAT bPET apart is its unique achievement of both uniform high spatial resolution and high sensitivity, all thanks to the utilization of dual-ended readout depth encoding detectors. 

Their findings were unveiled in the European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging on October 2.   

The results of their work showcase that the SIAT bPET boasts an impressive average spatial resolution of 1.2 millimeters across the entire field of view. At the center of the field of view, it exhibits a sensitivity of 11.0% when employing an energy window spanning from 350 to 750 keV. Notably, the operation of MRI sequences has an almost negligible impact on the performance of the PET scanner. The subsequent reduction in signal-to-noise ratio and homogeneity of MRI images, as the PET scanner is inserted into the MRI scanner and powered on, amounts to less than 2%. 

As Prof. YANG pointed out, "SIAT bPET is the sole MR-compatible dedicated brain PET scanner developed in China, boasting spatial resolution and sensitivity significantly superior to all previously developed MR-compatible brain PET scanners. It can be utilized either as a standalone brain PET scanner or as a PET insert within a commercial MRI scanner for concurrent PET/MRI imaging. This technology represents a vital asset for the early diagnosis of major brain diseases and fundamental brain science research."