Abstract
We study the noise characteristics of an image reconstruction algorithm that incorporates a model of the non-stationary detector blurring (DB) for a mouse-imaging positron emission tomography (PET) scanner. The algorithm uses ordered subsets expectation maximization (OSEM) image reconstruction, which is used to suppress statistical noise. Including the non-stationary detector blurring in the reconstruction process [OSEM(DB)] has been shown to increase contrast in images reconstructed from measured data acquired on the fully-3D MiCES PET scanner developed at the University of Washington. As an extension, this study uses simulation studies with a fully-3D acquisition mode and our proposed FORE + OSEM(DB) reconstruction process to evaluate the volumetric contrast versus noise trade-offs of this approach. Multiple realizations were simulated to estimate the true noise properties of the algorithm. The results show that incorporation of detector blurring FORE + OSEM(DB) into the reconstruction process improves the contrast/noise trade-offs compared to FORE + OSEM in a radially dependent manner. Adding post reconstruction 3D Gaussian smoothing to FORE + OSEM and FORE + OSEM(DB) reduces the contrast versus noise advantages of FORE + OSEM(DB).
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | 5280515 |
Pages (from-to) | 2769-2776 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science |
Volume | 56 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2009 Oct |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Manuscript received August 27, 2008; revised March 02, 2009. Current version published October 07, 2009. This work was supported by National Institutes of Health under Grants R01-CA74135, R01-CA86892, R01-EB0217, and R01-CA115870.
Keywords
- Detector blurring
- Fourier rebinning
- Noise property
- Ordered subsets expectation maximization (OSEM)
- Positron emission tomography
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Nuclear and High Energy Physics
- Nuclear Energy and Engineering
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering