MR Performance Comparison of a PET/MR System Before and After SiPM-Based Time-of-Flight PET Detector Insertion

A silicon photomultiplier (SiPM)-based time-of-flight capable PET detector has been integrated with a 70 cm wide-bore 3T MR scanner for simultaneous whole-body imaging (MR750w, GE Healthcare, Waukesha, WI). After insertion of the PET detector, the final PET/MR bore is 60 cm wide (SIGNA PET/MR, GE Healthcare, Waukesha, WI). The MR performance was compared before and after the PET ring insertion. B₀ homogeneity, B⁺₁ uniformity of the body coil along with peak B⁺₁, coherent noise, and FBIRN (Function Biomedical Informatics Research Network) tests are used to compare the MR performance. It is shown that B₀ homogeneity and coherent noise have not changed according to the system specifications. Peak B⁺₁ is increased by 33% and B⁺₁ inhomogeneity is increased by 4% after PET ring insertion due to a smaller diameter body coil design. The FBIRN test shows similar temporal stability before and after PET ring insertion. Due to a smaller body coil on the PET/MR system, the signal fluctuation to noise ratio (SFNR) and SNR for body receive coil, are improved by ∼40% and ∼160% for Echo Planar Imaging (EPI) and spiral sequences respectively. Comparison using RF and gradient-intensive clinical sequences shows inserting the PET detectors into the wide-bore MRI has not compromised the MR image quality according to these tests.