Modeling and simulation results on high sensitivity scattered gamma-ray emission imaging

A new modality in gamma-ray emission imaging, based on the use of scattered radiation detected with an uncollimated gamma camera, is put forward. Recently, we have shown that scattered radiation by Compton effect registered on a collimated gamma camera can be in principle used to reconstruct an object in three dimensions. To improve drastically the sensitivity of this process, we propose that data acquisition should be performed without mechanical collimation. As a first step, image formation in two dimensions is derived and validated by Monte Carlo simulations. Then, numerical reconstructions are presented to support the feasibility and attractiveness of this new concept.