Computed

Tomography
Image
Reconstruction
 Reconstruction Input:
Raw Data
Intensity 255 199 712
(transmission)
534
measurements
417

364

501
 Image Reconstruction Output:
Image Data
Individual pixel
values (question
marks)
Algorithm
Set of calculation rules for getting a specific output
(answer) from a specific input
Reconstruction algorithm examples

Back projection
Filtered back projection
Interpolation
 Back
Back Projection
Projection
Reconstruction
Reconstruction

? ? ? ? ? ? ? 63

Reconstruction Problem
converting transmission data for
individual projections into
attenuation data for each pixel
 Back
Back Projection
Projection Reconstruction
Reconstruction
Back Projection
for given projection, assume
equal attenuation for each
pixel
repeat for each projection 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 63
adding results
 Back
Back Projection
Projection Reconstruction
Reconstruction
Assume actual image has 1 hot spot
(attenuator)
Each ray passing through spot will have
attenuation back-projected along entire
line
Each ray missing spot will have 0’s back-
projected along entire line

9 9 9 9 9 9 9 63 Hot
Spot

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
 Back
Back Projection
Projection Reconstruction
Reconstruction
Each ray missing spot stays blank
Each ray through spot shares some density
Location of spot appears brightest

9 9 9 9 9 9 9 63

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hot
Spot
 Back
Back Projection
Projection Reconstruction
Reconstruction
Streaks appears
radially from
spot
star artifact

Star
Artifact
Spokes

Hot
Spot
 *
Filtered
Filtered Back
Back Projection
Projection
enhancement of back projection
Unfiltered
technique back
projection
filtering function (convolution) is
imposed on transmission data
small negative side lobes placed on
Filtered
each side of actual positive data back
negative values tend to cancel star projection

artifact
 Filtered
Filtered Back
Back Projection
Projection
Operationally fast
reconstruction begins upon reception of
first transmission data
Commercially used reconstruction
algorithm for decades
Now being replaced by iterative
 17

2 5 22

6 4 0 16

9 19

2 1 7

9 23 15 17 14
 13

22

12

10

15

16 22 11 10 17
***
512 values 14
100’s of
diagonals
11 12 13 14 35 @ 100’s
of angles
21 22 23 24 13
512
values 31 32 33 34 22

41 42 43 44 9

24 13 15 22 16
 Iterative
Iterative Reconstruction
Reconstruction
calculate difference between measured &
calculated attenuation for next projection
correct pixels equally for current
projection to achieve measured attenuation

BUT!!!
 Iterative
Iterative Reconstruction
Reconstruction
Correcting pixels for one projection alters
previously-calculated attenuation for
others
corrections repeated for all projections
until no significant change / improvement
 Iterative
Iterative Reconstruction
Reconstruction
Start with measured data

9
15
24 12 12
12
17 ? ? ?

19 ? ? ?
12 ? ? ?

Measurements
 Iterative
Iterative Reconstruction
Reconstruction
Make initial guess for first projections by
assuming equal attenuation for each pixel in a
projection
Similar to back projection

9
15 Measurements
24 12 12 24 12 12
12 8 4 4
17 ? ? ?

19 ? ? ? 8 4 4

12 ? ? ? 8 4 4

Initial guess based

upon vertical projections
Measurements
Iteration
Iteration Example
Example
24 12 12
8 4 4
Initial guess based
upon vertical projections 8 4 4

8 4 4

17 8.33 4.33 4.33 Low by 1; add .33 to each.

Make corrections
based on 19 9 5 5 Low by 3; add 1 to each.
horizontal
Projections data 12 6.67 2.67 2.67 High by 4; subtract 1.33
from each.
Iteration
Iteration Example
Example
17 8.33 4.33 4.33

19 9 5 5

12 6.67 2.67 2.67

9
15

12 8 4.16 4.33
Make corrections
based upon 9.17 4.33 4.83
Data measured on
diagonals High by .33; subtract .17
6.67 2.84 2.33 from each.

High by 1; subtract .33 from

Low by .3; add .17 to each. each.
Iterative Reconstruction: General Electric
Adaptive Statistical Iterative
Reconstruction (ASIR)
Claims & Observations
22-66% reduction in dose in abdominal scans with no
change in spatial or temporal resolution
Algorithm creates different texture
 Appears artificial
 Creates a “new normal”
Iterative Reconstruction: Siemens Iterative
Reconstruction in Image Space (IRIS)

Claims & Observations

Dose reduction up to 60% without quality loss
Fast reconstruction
Iterative Reconstruction: Philips iDose
Claims & Observations

Dose reduction for coronary CT angiography more

than 80% without quality loss
Reconstruction times of up to 20 images/second
Can improve image quality in typically high noise
bariatric exams
 Multi-plane
Multi-plane reconstruction
reconstruction
using data from multiple axial slices
it is possible to obtain
sagittal & coronal planes
oblique & 3D reconstruction
Non-spiral reconstruction
Poor appearance if slice thickness
>>pixel size
multi-plane reconstructions are
computer intensive
 3D Reconstructions

Uses pixel data from multiple slices

Algorithm identifies surfaces & volumes
Display renders surfaces & volumes
Real-time motion
 auto-rotation
 user-controlled multi-plane rotation
3D Reconstructions