Abstract #1503

Su M, Mandelkern M, Chu Y, Nalcioglu O

The criterion of maximization of mutual information (MMI) is proposed to apply a priori information from high-resolution MR images on restoration of low-resolution PET images. The results, including improved resolution, sharper edges, better contrast, higher SNR, small structure and lesion detectability, and more accurate radioactivity concentration, were demonstrated using a realistic digital brain phantom. The proposed method was also applied in a clinical epilepsy study, and proven to improve the quality of restored PET images. This method can be easily implemented to improve the resolution and quantitative accuracy of functional PET or SPECT images when the MRI is available.