Comparison of NaI(T1), CdTe, and HgI2 surgical probes: effect of scatter compensation on probe performance.

Spatial variation in the background source distribution makes tumor detection difficult for single-detector probes. Using a single energy window that brackets the photopeak helps discriminate against background events dominated by Compton scattering. Another approach is to use the information provided by an additional window in the Compton region. The performances of NaI(T1), CdTe, and HgI2 surgical probes have been compared under realistic simulations of a tumor-staging procedure using optimal single-sided energy windows and a two-window scatter-subtraction technique. Results showed that despite the differences in energy resolution of the detectors, the performances of the probes in a variable background were similar when optimal single energy windows were used. When the background variations were large, using information provided by a second window improved probe performance.