A Model-Based Scatter Artifacts Correction for Cone Beam CT

TL;DR

This paper introduces a fast, accurate, software-based scatter correction algorithm for cone beam CT that improves image quality and quantitative accuracy without hardware modifications, benefiting clinical applications.

Contribution

The proposed method provides a novel, efficient scatter correction technique using coarse scatter estimation and Poisson denoising, applicable in both image and projection domains.

Findings

Significantly reduces scatter artifacts in phantom and in vivo images.

Improves HU accuracy from -21.8 HU to near zero in phantom data.

Enhances contrast and image quality in clinical CBCT images.

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to provide a fast and accurate scatter artifacts correction algorithm for cone beam CT (CBCT) imaging. The method starts with an estimation of coarse scatter profiles for a set of CBCT data in either image domain or projection domain. A denoising algorithm designed specifically for Poisson signals is then applied to derive the final scatter distribution. Qualitative and quantitative evaluations using thorax and abdomen phantoms with Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, experimental Catphan phantom data, and in vivo human data acquired for a clinical image guided radiation therapy were performed. Results show that the proposed algorithm can significantly reduce scatter artifacts and recover the correct HU in either projection domain or image domain. For the MC thorax phantom study, four components segmentation yield the best results, while the results of three components segmentation are still acceptable. For the Catphan phantom data, the mean value over all pixels in the residual image is reduced from -21.8 HU to -0.2 HU and 0.7 HU for projection domain and image domain, respectively. The contrast of the in vivo human images are greatly improved after correction. The software-based technique has a number of advantages, such as high computational efficiency and accuracy, and the capability of performing scatter correction without modifying the clinical workflow or modifying the imaging hardware. When implemented practically, this should improve the accuracy of CBCT image quantitation and significantly impact CBCT-based interventional procedures and adaptive radiation therapy.