First ex-vivo positronium imaging of tissues with modular J-PET scanner using ${}^{44}$Sc radionuclide

Abstract

This study presents the first ex-vivo positronium imaging of human tissues using the modular J-PET scanner with the ${}^{44}$Sc radionuclide. The ${}^{44}$Sc isotope was produced via the ${}^{44}$Ca(p, n)${}^{44}$Sc nuclear reaction and used to perform positronium imaging of phantom composed of human adipose tissue, cardiac myxoma tissue, thrombi blood clot, and also porous polymer XAD4, and a certified reference material (CRM) made from fused silica. The experiment demonstrates the suitability of ${}^{44}$Sc as a positron source for positronium imaging. The performance of J-PET for positronium imaging with ${}^{44}$Sc was validated by proper reconstruction of the mean orthopositronium lifetime for CRM material and XAD-4 polymer. The mean ortho-positronium (oPs) lifetimes determined for adipose tissue, cardiac myxoma tissues and thrombi were consistent with results of previous experiments. The study highlights the potential ${}^{44}$Sc radionuclide for positronium lifetime imaging (PLI).

to be published in Zeitschrift für Medizinische Physik