Entropy-based method to evaluate the data integrity

Projection stage of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was discussed to analyze the characteristics of information transmission and evaluate the data integrity. Information is transferred from the source to the detector in the photon emitting process. In the projection stage, integrity of projection data can be assessed by the information entropy, which is the conditional entropy standing for the average uncertainty of the source object under the condition of projection data. Simulations were performed to study projection data of emission-computed tomography with a pinhole collimator. Several types of collimators were treated. Results demonstrate that the conditional entropy shows the data integrity, and indicate how the algorithms are matched or mismatched to the geometry. A new method for assessing data integrity is devised for those decision makers to help improve the quality of image reconstruction.