title: Effect of scatter on reconstructed image quality in cone beam computed tomography: evaluation of a scatter-reduction optimisation function.
abstract: The effect of scatter on reconstructed image quality in cone beam computed tomography was investigated and a function which can be used in scatter-reduction optimisation tasks was tested. Projections were calculated using the Monte Carlo method in an axially symmetric cone beam geometry consisting of a point source, water phantom and a single row of detector elements. Image reconstruction was performed using the filtered backprojection method. Image quality was assessed by the L2-norm-based difference relative to a reference image derived from (1) weighted linear attenuation coefficients and (2) projections by primary photons. It was found that the former function was strongly affected by the beam hardening artefact and did not properly reflect the amount of scatter but the latter function increased with increasing beam width, was higher for the larger phantom and exhibited properties which made it a good candidate for scatter-reduction optimisation tasks using polyenergetic beams.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Physics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden. Alexandr.Malusek@imv.liu.se
authors.forename: Alexandr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malusek
authors.forename: Maria Magnusson
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Seger
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sandborg
authors.forename: Gudrun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alm Carlsson
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*