Effects of collimator on imaging performance of Yttrium-90 Bremsstrahlung photons: Monte Carlo simulation

Abstract

Yttrium-90 is a useful therapeutic radioisotope for tumor treatment because of its high-energy-emitting beta rays. However, it has been difficult to select appropriate collimators and main energy windows for Y-90 Bremsstrahlung imaging using gamma cameras because of the broad energy spectra of Y-90. We used a Monte Carlo simulation to investigate the effects of collimator selection and energy windows on Y-90 Bremsstrahlung imaging. We considered both MELP and HE collimators. Various phantoms were employed in the simulation to determine the main energy window using primary-to-scatter ratios (PSRs). Imaging performance was evaluated using spatial resolution indices, imaging counts, scatter fractions, and contrast-to-noise ratios. Collimator choice slightly affected energy spectrum shapes and improved PSRs. The HE collimator performed better than the MELP collimator on all imaging performance indices (except for imaging count). We observed minor differences in SR and SF values for the HE collimator among the five simulated energy windows. The combination of an HE collimator and improved-PSR energy window produced the best CNR value. In conclusion, appropriate collimator selection is an important component of Bremsstrahlung Y-90 photon imaging and main energy window determination. We found HE collimators to be more appropriate for improving the imaging performance of Bremsstrahlung Y-90 photons. Keywords: Yttrium-90, Bremsstrahlung imaging, Collimator, Energy window, Gamma camera