biostudies-literatureLeybourne NEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council13https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12858686biostudies-literatureUnknown13(1)<h4>Background</h4>The adoption of silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) detectors over conventional photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) has enhanced overall system performance. In this phantom study, small-lesion detectability was assessed for SiPM-based and PMT-based PET systems for various inhomogeneity sizes, acquisition times and activity contrasts between the inhomogeneity and background.<h4>Methods</h4>Six spheres of internal diameters ranging between 4.0 mm and 13.0 mm were integrated into a NEMA/IEC PET Body Phantom and filled with fluorodeoxyglucose, with a sphere activity concentration of 29.2 MBq/L and five sphere-to-background activity concentration ratios between 4 and 20. Scans were performed with an SiPM-based system and a PMT-based PET system for eaEJNMMI physicsAssessing small-lesion detectability and acquisition time optimisation in silicon-detector-Based PET: a phantom study.PMC128586862594498Leybourne NEvans PStrouhal PPrakash VHussein MFenwick AFlorescu LfalseAssessing small-lesion detectability and acquisition time optimisation in silicon-detector-Based PET: a phantom study.<h4>Background</h4>The adoption of silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) detectors over conventional photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) has enhanced overall system performance. In this phantom study, small-lesion detectability was assessed for SiPM-based and PMT-based PET systems for various inhomogeneity sizes, acquisition times and activity contrasts between the inhomogeneity and background.<h4>Methods</h4>Six spheres of internal diameters ranging between 4.0 mm and 13.0 mm were integrated into a NEMA/IEC PET Body Phantom and filled with fluorodeoxyglucose, with a sphere activity concentration of 29.2 MBq/L and five sphere-to-background activity concentration ratios between 4 and 20. Scans were performed with an SiPM-based system and a PMT-based PET system for ea2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Dec2026-06-10T08:55:36.536Z2026-06-10T03:12:40.273ZS-EPMC128586864145623610.1186/s40658-025-00821-9