title: Fast estimation of first-order scattering in a medical x-ray computed tomography scanner using a ray-tracing technique.
abstract: This study describes a deterministic method for simulating the first-order scattering in a medical computed tomography scanner. The method was developed based on a physics model of x-ray photon interactions with matter and a ray tracing technique. The results from simulated scattering were compared to the ones from an actual scattering measurement. Two phantoms with homogeneous and heterogeneous material distributions were used in the scattering simulation and measurement. It was found that the simulated scatter profile was in agreement with the measurement result, with an average difference of 25% or less. Finally, tomographic images with artifacts caused by scatter were corrected based on the simulated scatter profiles. The image quality improved significantly.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, 301 W14th Street, Rolla, MO 65401, USA. Tel.: +1 573 341 4693; Fax: +1 573 341 4720; E-mail: xinliu@mst.edu.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D017785:Photons; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014965:X-Rays
keywords: deterministic simulation; ray tracing; scattering; x-ray computed tomography