Cone beam computed tomography with a flat panel imager Magnitude and effects of x ray scatter英文文献.pdfVIP

Cone-beam computed tomography with a flat-panel imager: Magnitude and effects of x-ray scatter Jeffrey H. Siewerdsena) and David A. Jaffray Department of Radiation Oncology, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan 48073 Received 7 July 2000; accepted for publication 6 November 2000 A system for cone-beam computed tomography CBCT based on a flat-panel imager FPI is used to examine the magnitude and effects of x-ray scatter in FPI-CBCT volume reconstructions. The system is being developed for application in image-guided therapies and has previously demon- strated spatial resolution and soft-tissue visibility comparable or superior to a conventional CT scanner under conditions of low x-ray scatter. For larger objects consistent with imaging of human anatomy e.g., the pelvis and for increased cone angle i.e., larger volumetric reconstructions, however, the effects of x-ray scatter become significant. The magnitude of x-ray scatter with which the FPI-CBCT system must contend is quantified in terms of the scatter-to-primary energy fluence ratio SPR and scatter intensity profiles in the detector plane, each measured as a function of object size and cone angle. For large objects and cone angles e.g., a pelvis imaged with a cone angle of 6°, SPR in excess of 100% is observed. Associated with such levels of x-ray scatter are cup and streak artifacts as well as reduced accuracy in reconstruction values, quantified herein across a range of SPR consistent with the clinical setting. The effect of x-ray scatter on the contrast, noise, and contrast-to-noise ratio CNR in FPI-CBCT reconstructions was measured as a function of SPR and compared to predictions of a simple analytical model. The results quantify the degree to