Potential of software-based scatter corrections in cone-beam volume CT

Abstract

This study deals with a systematic assessment of the potential of different schemes for computerized scatter correction in flat detector based cone-beam X-ray computed tomography. The analysis is based on simulated scatter of a CT image of a human head. Using a Monte-Carlo cone-beam CT simulator, the spatial distribution of scattered radiation produced by this object has been calculated with high accuracy for the different projected views of a circular tomographic scan. Using this data and, as a reference, a scatter-free forward projection of the phantom, the potential of different schemes for scatter correction has been evaluated. In particular, the ideally achievable degree of accuracy of schemes based on estimating a constant scatter level in each projection was compared to approaches aiming at estimation of a more complex spatial shape of the scatter distribution. For each scheme, remaining cupping artifacts in the reconstructed volumetric image were quantified and analyzed. It was found that already accurate estimation of a constant scatter level for each projection allows for comparatively accurate compensation of scatter-caused artifacts.