CNN-based regularisation for CT image reconstructions

TL;DR

This paper introduces CNN-based algorithms for improving CT image reconstructions by reducing artifacts and noise, while ensuring consistency with measurements and classical sampling constraints, aiming to lower radiation exposure.

Contribution

It presents novel CNN-based regularisation methods that incorporate measurement consistency and classical sampling constraints into CT image reconstruction.

Findings

Enhanced image quality with fewer projections.

Effective noise and artifact reduction in reconstructed images.

Integration of classical sampling constraints improves reconstruction accuracy.

Abstract

X-ray computed tomographic infrastructures are medical imaging modalities that rely on the acquisition of rays crossing examined objects while measuring their intensity decrease. Physical measurements are post-processed by mathematical reconstruction algorithms that may offer weaker or top-notch consistency guarantees on the computed volumetric field. Superior results are provided on the account of an abundance of low-noise measurements being supplied. Nonetheless, such a scanning process would expose the examined body to an undesirably large-intensity and long-lasting ionising radiation, imposing severe health risks. One main objective of the ongoing research is the reduction of the number of projections while keeping the quality performance stable. Due to the under-sampling, the noise occurring inherently because of photon-electron interactions is now supplemented by reconstruction artifacts. Recently, deep learning methods, especially fully convolutional networks have been extensively investigated and proven to be efficient in filtering such deviations. In this report algorithms are presented that take as input a slice of a low-quality reconstruction of the volume in question and aim to map it to the reconstruction that is considered ideal, the ground truth. Above that, the first system comprises two additional elements: firstly, it ensures the consistency with the measured sinogram, secondly it adheres to constraints proposed in classical compressive sampling theory. The second one, inspired by classical ways of solving the inverse problem of reconstruction, takes an iterative approach to regularise the hypothesis in the direction of the correct result.