Title :
Fast implementation of the single scatter simulation algorithm and its use in iterative image reconstruction of PET data
Author :
Werling, Alexander ; Bublitz, Olaf ; Doll, Josef ; Adam, Lars-E ; Brix, Gunnar
Author_Institution :
Germany Cancer Res. Center, Heidelberg, Germany
Abstract :
In positron emission tomography (PET), scatter correction is generally performed prior to image reconstruction using a more or less exact model of the scatter processes. Those models require estimates of the correct emission and attenuation distribution in the imaged object, neglecting the fact that these estimates already contain scattered events, since they are computed from uncorrected data. The purpose of this work was to bypass this problem by incorporating scatter characteristics directly into the process of iterative image reconstruction. This could be achieved by an optimized implementation of the Single Scatter Simulation (SSS) algorithm which results in a significant speedup of the scatter estimation procedure. The scatter simulation was then included into the forward projection step of maximum likelihood image reconstruction. Results demonstrate that this approach leads to a more exact estimation of the scatter component which can not be obtained by a simple sequential data processing strategy
Keywords :
gamma-ray scattering; image reconstruction; iterative methods; medical image processing; positron emission tomography; PET data; attenuation distribution; forward projection step; iterative image reconstruction; maximum likelihood image reconstruction; medical diagnostic imaging; nuclear medicine; simple sequential data processing strategy; single scatter simulation algorithm; uncorrected data; Biomedical imaging; Computational modeling; Discrete event simulation; Distributed computing; Electromagnetic scattering; Image reconstruction; Iterative algorithms; Maximum likelihood estimation; Particle scattering; Positron emission tomography;
Conference_Titel :
Nuclear Science Symposium, 1999. Conference Record. 1999 IEEE
Conference_Location :
Seattle, WA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-5696-9
DOI :
10.1109/NSSMIC.1999.842765