Purpose: In order to measure spatial resolution of a PET tomograph in clinical conditions, this study describes and
validates a method based on the recovery coefficient, a factor required to compensate underestimation in measured
radioactivity concentration for small structures.
Methods: In a PET image, the recovery factors of radioactive spheres were measured and their comparison with
simulated recovery coefficients yielded the tomographic spatial resolution. Following this methodology, resolution was
determined in different surrounding media and several conditions for reconstruction, including clinical conditions for brain
PET studies. All spatial resolution values were compared with those obtained using classical methods with point and
line sources.
Results: In each considered condition, spatial resolution of the PET image estimated using the recovery coefficient
showed good agreement with classical methods measurements, validating the procedure.
Conclusion: Measurement of the recovery coefficient provides an assessment of tomographic spatial resolution,
particularly in clinical studies conditions
