Expert consensus on workflow of PET/CT with long axial field-of-view

• Published in: European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging 2024-11
• Main Authors: Liu, Guobing, Gu, Yushen, Sollini, Martina, Lazar, Alexandra, Besson, Florent L, Li, Sijin, Wu, Zhifang, Nardo, Lorenzo, Al-Ibraheem, Akram, Zheng, Jiefu, Kulkarni, Harshad R, Rominger, Axel, Fan, Wei, Zhu, Xiaohua, Zhao, Xinming, Wu, Hubing, Liu, Jianjun, Li, Biao, Cheng, Zhaoping, Wang, Ruimin, Xu, Baixuan, Agostini, Denis, Tang, Han, Tan, Lijie, Yang, Zhi, Huo, Li, Gu, Jianying, Shi, Hongcheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1619-7070; 1619-7089; 1619-7089
• DOI: 10.1007/s00259-024-06968-4

Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging has been widely used in clinical practice. Long axial field-of-view (LAFOV) systems have enhanced clinical practice by leveraging their technological advantages and have emerged as the new state-of-the-art PET imaging modalities. A consensus was conducted to explore expert views in this emerging field to comprehensively elucidate the proposed workflow in LAFOV PET/CT examinations and highlight the potential challenges inherent in the workflow. A multidisciplinary task group formed by 28 experts from six countries over the world discussed and approved the consensus based on the published guidelines, peer-reviewed articles of LAFOV PET/CT, and the collective experience from clinical practice. This consensus focuses on the workflow that allows for a broader range of imaging protocols of LAFOV PET/CT, catering to diverse patient needs and in line with precision medicine principles. This consensus describes the workflows and imaging protocols of LAFOV PET/CT for various imaging scenarios including routine static imaging, dynamic imaging, low-activity imaging, fast imaging, prolonged imaging, delayed imaging, and dual-tracer imaging. In addition, imaging reconstruction and reviewing specific to LAFOV PET/CT imaging, as well as the main challenges facing installation and application of LAFOV PET/CT scanner were also summarized. This consensus summarized the various imaging workflow, imaging protocol, and challenges of LAFOV PET/CT imaging, aiming to enhance the clinical and research applications of these scanners.