Monte-Carlo simulation of new generation, high resolution, small dimension positron emission tomography systems (small animal PET)

Partners: Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS) - National Technical University of Athens, Polytechnic University of Madrid

Duration: 01/2005 - 12/2006

The aim of the proposed research work is the study, using Monte-Carlo simulation, of a new generation, high-resolution, small-dimension positron emission tomography systems suitable for small animal imaging (small animal PET) and potentially for the detection of small size breast tumours. Such small animal PET systems have been used experimentally for imaging of breast phantoms and lately clinical studies have shown that this technique can be used complementary to standard X-ray mammography, towards an accurate and early diagnosis of the disease, which plays a significant role in the design of the treatment plan and the treatment outcome. Monte-Carlo simulation is a tool that is widely used during the design steps. When the components of the system are described in detail, Monte-Carlo simulation takes into account the geometry, the characteristics, the physical properties of the materials and the possible interactions with incident photons and "predicts" systems response. Monte-Carlo simulations will be carried out using dedicated codes, simSET and GATE. The results of these studies will be used during the design steps of the detector systems in order to optimize their performance. The implementation of the simulation will be based on the GRID concept, using the EGEE platform (Enabling Grids for E-science in Europe), which is built on the GEANT EU research network, as it also occurs with the GATE platform.