Which term refers to the ability to correct the Partial Volume Effect?

The Partial Volume Effect (PVE) occurs when a voxel (three-dimensional pixel) contains a mixture of different tissue types, leading to inaccurate quantification of activity within that voxel. The ability to correct for this effect is termed the Recovery Coefficient.

The Recovery Coefficient quantifies the extent of recovery of a true radioactivity concentration in a smaller region (often noted as a small volume of interest) compared to the measurable concentration in a larger area. This correction is essential in PET imaging to ensure that the tracer uptake reflects true physiological conditions, particularly in heterogeneous tissues like tumors or when small lesions are involved. A higher recovery coefficient indicates better correction for PVE.

The other terms mentioned do not specifically address the correction of PVE. Image Contrast refers to the difference in image intensity between different features which affects how easily structures can be distinguished. Spatial Resolution refers to the ability to distinguish between closely spaced objects in an image but does not inherently involve the correction for PVE. Dynamic Range relates to the range of signal intensity the imaging system can capture, which does not directly solve issues caused by PVE. Therefore, the Recovery Coefficient is the term that accurately defines the corrective process for the Partial Volume Effect in PET imaging.