What question did this study set out to answer?

The study investigates how patients perceive PET/CT scans and factors influencing their experience using two scanner types.

April 13, 2026European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging1 citationsOpen Access

Beyond image quality: Patient experience with long-axial field-of-view and standard PET/CT systems

DSDaniel SauerbrunnUniversity Children's Hospital Tübingen NSNorbert SchäffelerUniversitätsklinikum Tübingen JSJulia SeklerUniversity Children's Hospital Tübingen

Key Points

The study investigates how patients perceive PET/CT scans and factors influencing their experience using two scanner types.
Conducted a prospective clinical trial with 1,003 patients completing questionnaires related to their scan experience.
Patients rated their perceptions using visual analogue scales and standardized stress, anxiety, and depression questionnaires.
620 patients used a standard field-of-view scanner, while 383 used a long axial field-of-view scanner.
Applied logistic regression models to identify predictors of patient satisfaction and experience updates.
Patients reported that older age, male gender, and tension during the scan negatively impacted their experience.
Higher depression scores related to feeling uncared for during the procedure.
LAFOV scanner evaluations were significantly better than SAFOV due to reduced scan time and enhanced comfort.
Scan time was identified as the most critical factor to improve patient examination experiences.

Abstract

This study examined how patients subjectively perceive and experience PET/CT scans, as well as the impact of psychological stress, demographics, and the use of two different scanner types (a standard field-of-view (SAFOV) scanner (Biograph mCT) and a new-generation PET/CT scanner with a long axial field-of-view (LAFOV) (Biograph Vision Quadra)). This prospective clinical trial involved asking 1,003 patients to complete questionnaires about their perceptions and potential side effects following a PET/CT scan by using visual analogue scales (VAS). Patients were also asked to complete standardized questionnaires on stress, anxiety and depression. 620 of the total number of 1,003 patients were scanned with the SAFOV scanner and 383 with the LAFOV scanner. 84 patients who had multiple scans experienced both scanners Logistic regression models were applied to determine predictors on patients’ ratings of their scan experience. Several factors negatively influenced various aspects of the scan experience: The most important of these were older age, male gender and subjective feelings of tension during the scan. Clinically elevated depression scores and older age can predict patients feeling generally not well cared for. Patients general stress and anxiety tend to play a subordinate role. Acute tension experienced during the scan itself has a far greater influence; particularly on tolerance of the scan time and positioning, and can even worsen the assessment of the appropriateness of the equipment. The LAFOV scanner was found to be superior to the conventional SAFOV scanner in terms of patient evaluations, primarily due to its ability to performe scans more quickly. From the patient’s perspective, scan time is the most important variable that can be adjusted to improve the PET/CT examination experience. The use of LAFOV scanners makes it possible to significantly reduce the scan time for most standard PET/CT examinations, thereby greatly improving patient comfort. Furthermore, it would be important to take measures to alleviate the patient’s acute tension during the examination. DRKS00026163 (23-Aug-2021).

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