GammaKey system for improved diagnostics with gamma cameras

Milica M Janković; Boris Pijetlović; Ana Koljević Marković; Mila V Todorović-Tirnanić; Slobodanka Lj Beatović; Vojislav Antić; Strahinja Odalović; Stevan Sekulić; Nikola Jorgovanović; Dejan B Popović

doi:10.1016/j.compbiomed.2014.04.016

GammaKey system for improved diagnostics with gamma cameras

Comput Biol Med. 2014 Jul:50:97-106. doi: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2014.04.016. Epub 2014 Apr 30.

Affiliations

¹ University of Belgrade - Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 73, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: piperski@etf.rs.
² National Cancer Research Center of Serbia, Pasterova 14, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: boris.pijetlovic@gmail.com.
³ National Cancer Research Center of Serbia, Pasterova 14, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: md100218@gmail.com.
⁴ Center for Nuclear Medicine, Clinical Center of Serbia, Višegradska 26, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, Višegradska 26, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: t.t.mila@sezampro.rs.
⁵ Center for Nuclear Medicine, Clinical Center of Serbia, Višegradska 26, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, Višegradska 26, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: boba.beatovic@sbb.rs.
⁶ Center for Nuclear Medicine, Clinical Center of Serbia, Višegradska 26, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: antic.vojislav@gmail.com.
⁷ Center for Nuclear Medicine, Clinical Center of Serbia, Višegradska 26, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: cale_odl@yahoo.com.
⁸ Center for Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia. Electronic address: ssekulic@EUnet.rs.
⁹ University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Trg Dositeja Obradovića, 21 000, Novi Sad, Serbia. Electronic address: nikolaj@uns.ac.rs.
¹⁰ University of Belgrade - Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 73, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: dbp@etf.rs.

PMID: 24845020
DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2014.04.016

Abstract

We designed the GammaKey system for the acquisition, storage and analysis of images from semi-analogue gamma scintillation cameras (GSCs). The GammaKey system, operating on a standard PC, replicates the functionality of earlier dedicated computer systems, allows the exchange of data in the DICOM format and has an open architecture enabling the development of new diagnostic techniques. The main purpose of the GammaKey is to enable the continued use of old GSCs which have functional scintillation crystals, but also to permit data exchange with new digital GSCs. The GammaKey has been technically validated by standards established by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. The GammaKey has been used for seven years in two leading centres for nuclear medicine in Serbia (the Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, and the Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad) in approximately 30,000 patients. Clinical application proves that the GammaKey is a robust and reliable system with high-quality image output. Data processing can be upgraded with non-standard features added on request as shown in two examples: (1) the testing of splenectomy efficacy in the case of thrombocytopenia with normal production; and (2) the detection and localisation of parathyroid adenomas.

Keywords: Gamma camera; Nuclear medicine imaging; Parathyroid adenoma; Scintigraphy; Splenectomy.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Algorithms
Automation
Computer Systems
Gamma Cameras*
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods*
Lung / diagnostic imaging
Medical Informatics / methods*
Nuclear Medicine / methods
Parathyroid Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
Perfusion
Radionuclide Imaging
Saliva / metabolism
Serbia
Software
Splenectomy / methods
Thrombocytopenia / surgery