Table 1.

Major Scanner-Specific Factors That Affect Bias and Variance in PET Images.

Global calibration method

Attenuation and correction method

Scattered coincidences and correction method

Random coincidences and correction method

Detector efficiency variations and correction method

Geometrical efficiency normalizations

Intrinsic detector resolution

Sensitivity

Live time as a function of count rate

Image reconstruction method (especially smoothing)

Data processing algorithms, e.g., decay correction

Clock synchronization