What is the ability of a gamma camera to resolve objects that are close together called?

The ability of a gamma camera to resolve objects that are close together is referred to as spatial resolution. This concept involves the camera's capacity to distinguish between separate objects that are positioned near one another. High spatial resolution means that the camera can effectively differentiate multiple closely spaced sources, which is critical for obtaining clear and accurate images.

Spatial resolution is influenced by several factors, including the physical design of the gamma camera, the size of the collimator holes, and the characteristics of the detector. A high spatial resolution allows for better image quality and enhanced diagnostic capabilities, enabling healthcare providers to make more accurate assessments based on the images produced.

In contrast, the other terms relate to different imaging characteristics. Energy resolution pertains to the camera's ability to differentiate between gamma rays of different energies, count efficiency measures how effectively the camera detects and counts the gamma events, and contrast resolution describes the ability to differentiate between varying levels of radioactivity in an image. Although these are important factors in nuclear medicine imaging, they do not specifically address the resolution of objects based on their proximity to one another, which is the focus of spatial resolution.