title: Properties of preprocessed sinogram data in x-ray computed tomography.
abstract: The accurate determination of x-ray signal properties is important to several computed tomography (CT) research and development areas, notably for statistical reconstruction algorithms and dose-reduction simulation. The most commonly used model of CT signal formation, assuming monoenergetic x-ray sources with quantum counting detectors obeying simple Poisson statistics, does not reflect the actual physics of CT acquisition. This paper describes a more accurate model, taking into account the energy-integrating detection process, nonuniform flux profiles, and data-conditioning processes. Methods are developed to experimentally measure and theoretically calculate statistical distributions, as well as techniques to analyze CT signal properties. Results indicate the limitations of current models and suggest improvements for the description of CT signal properties.
authors.affiliation: Electronic Radiology Lab, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. witingb@wustl.edu
authors.forename: Bruce R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Whiting
authors.forename: Parinaz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Massoumzadeh
authors.forename: Orville A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Earl
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.forename: Donald L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: Jeffrey F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Williamson
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods; D008954:Models, Biological; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*