Digital Reference Object
Updated: 21 June 2016
DRO Description
The PET/CT Digital Reference Object (DRO) is a set of synthetically generated DICOM
image files of known voxel values for positron emission tomography (PET) and x-ray
computed tomography (CT). The PET/CT DRO is intended to test the computation of standardized
uptake values (SUVs) by PET/CT display stations. It is also intended to test region of interest
(ROI) calculations and alignment between the PET and CT images. This is motivated by vendor-specific
variations in PET DICOM formats used for SUVs. The PET/CT DRO was developed at the
University of Washington Imaging Research Laboratory
and is supported by the
Quantitative Imaging Biomarker Alliance (QIBA).
The May 29, 2013 version of the
Digital Reference Object contains a
User Guide, a
Report in pdf format, a
Report in MS Excel format, a folder with the
PET DICOM images, and a folder with the
CT DICOM images. This object is listed as "female" for lean body mass calculation purposes. A alternative male version is also given as the May 28, 2013 version.
Each DICOM folder contains 110 DICOM files, numbered
000001 through
000110 with no file extensions. The PET DICOM image with the test voxels (see the instructions in the report) is slice 40, named
000040.
The PET DICOMs are 256x256 pixels per image. The CT DICOMs are 512x512 pixels per slice.
Users of the DRO are asked to load the DICOMs into their viewing software, perform the various tests outlined in the report, and submit the results.
The primary goals and objectives of the PET/CT Digital Reference Object are to support the
QIBA FDG-PET
'Technical Validation' efforts for profile development. This will be done by (1) evaluation and
validation of SUV calculations in PET images, (2) evaluation and validation of ROI calculations and (3)
providing a common reference standard that can be adopted and modified by PET/CT scanner and display
station manufacturers.
This image shows the flow of PET/CT DICOM image files in a heterogeneous manufacturer and vendor network. The insertion of digital reference objects (DROs) for testing validity of SUV and ROI analysis is also indicated.
The PET and CT components of the Images of the DRO are each a set of
DICOM format files, one
file per image slice. Each set of files are typically grouped as a stack to form an image volume.
Representative sections through the CT and PET image volumes are shown below. The synthetic test object
is based on, but is not identical to, the NEMA NU-2 PET test phantom [J Nucl Med, vol. 43 no. 10 1398-1409, 2002].
Further details are given in the
DRO User's Guide contained in the .zip package.
Representative 2-D sections through the CT and PET DRO image volumes.
Users of the DRO are asked to download the package, import the PET and CT objects into their viewing
software, perform region of interest (ROI) analyses, and submit the results back to this website.
Download the entire 20130529 DRO (for SUV computation testing) package here (includes all other files):
DRO_20130529.zip
