PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Sara M. Nardinger
AU  - Thuy D. Tran
AU  - Tiffinee N. Swanson
AU  - Lacey R. Ellingson
AU  - Courtney M. Solberg
AU  - Michael K. O’Connor
AU  - Carrie B. Hruska
TI  - Guidelines for Quality Control Testing of Molecular Breast Imaging Systems
AID  - 10.2967/jnmt.118.209221
DP  - 2018 Dec 01
TA  - Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
PG  - 349--354
VI  - 46
IP  - 4
4099  - http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/46/4/349.short
4100  - http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/46/4/349.full
SO  - J. Nucl. Med. Technol.2018 Dec 01; 46
AB  - Molecular breast imaging (MBI) is a nuclear medicine test that uses dedicated γ-cameras designed for imaging of the breast. Despite growing adoption of MBI, there is currently a lack of guidance on appropriate quality control procedures for MBI systems. Tests designed for conventional γ-cameras either do not apply or must be modified for dedicated detectors. Our objective was to provide practical guidance for physics testing of MBI systems by adapting existing quality control procedures for conventional systems. Methods: Quality control tests designed for conventional γ-cameras were attempted on a dedicated MBI system and then modified as necessary to accommodate the pixelated detector, limited space between dual-detector heads, and inability to fully rotate the detector gantry. Results: MBI systems were found to warrant quality control testing of uniformity, spatial resolution, count sensitivity, energy resolution, and lesion contrast. The modified procedures and special considerations needed for these tests were investigated and described. Physics tests of intrinsic uniformity, count rate parameters, and overall system performance for SPECT did not apply to dedicated MBI systems. Conclusion: Routine physics testing of dedicated MBI equipment is important for verifying system specifications and monitoring changes in performance. As adoption of MBI grows, routine testing may be required for obtaining and maintaining accreditation from regulatory bodies.