Comparative assessment of scintillation camera performance.

The performance characteristics of 5 scintillation cameras were compared: Searle 19, Searle 37, Ohio Nuclear, Picker 2C and Toshiba GCA 202. Inherent characteristics including spatial resolution, field uniformity and distortion, energy resolution, count-rate capability and paralyzing time were measured. Extrinsic characteristics such as spatial resolution with emission tests and sensitivity with high resolution, low energy collimators also were measured. The Ohio Nuclear camera gave the best results for most of the parameters studied, followed by Searle 37 PMT, Searle 19 PMT, Picker, and Toshiba. The size of the crystal must also be a criterion for choosing a camera.