18-Month Performance Assessment of Gemini TF 16 PET/CT System in a High-Volume Department

Acceptance testing is a set of quality control tests performed to verify various manufacturer-specified parameters before a newly installed PET/CT system can be accepted for clinical use. A new PET/CT system, Gemini TF 16, installed in our department in September 2012 has a PET component capable of time-of-flight imaging using lutetium-yttrium-oxyorthosilicate crystals and operates in 3-dimensional mode. Our aim was to evaluate the system before acceptance and observe the consistency of its performance during high-volume work for 18 mo after installation (we perform an average of 30 PET/CT scans daily). Methods: We performed NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) NU-2 2007 acceptance testing on the Gemini TF 16; continuously evaluated its gain calibration, timing resolution, and energy resolution during the subsequent 18 mo; and analyzed the results. Results: The system passed the acceptance testing and showed few fluctuations in energy and timing resolutions during the observation period. Conclusion: The Gemini TF 16 whole-body PET/CT system performed excellently during the 18-mo study period despite the high volume of work.