Which parameter is critical to assess along with the intrinsic resolution of a SPECT gamma camera?

The intrinsic resolution of a SPECT gamma camera refers to its ability to distinguish between two closely spaced gamma-emitting sources. Assessing spatial linearity is critical because it evaluates how accurately the camera represents the spatial distribution of radioactivity. If spatial linearity is poor, even if the intrinsic resolution is high, the resulting images may not accurately reflect the true distribution of the radiopharmaceutical in the patient's body.

Spatial linearity ensures that measurements taken at various points across the camera's field of view remain consistent and proportional to the actual distances and distributions of the emissions. This aspect is crucial when interpreting images for diagnosis, as inaccuracies can lead to misrepresentations of the lesion size and position, affecting clinical decisions.

While depth of field, quantum efficiency, and signal-to-noise ratio are also important parameters in evaluating the overall performance of the imaging system, they do not directly relate to the precision of spatial representation that spatial linearity addresses.