Scatter compensation for digital chest radiography using maximum likelihood expectation maximization

Invest Radiol. 1993 May;28(5):427-33. doi: 10.1097/00004424-199305000-00009.

Abstract

Rationale and objectives: An iterative maximum likelihood expectation maximization algorithm (MLEM) has been developed for scatter compensation in chest radiography.

Methods: The MLEM technique produces a scatter-reduced image which maximizes the probability of observing the measured image. We examined the scatter content and the low-contrast signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in digital radiographs of anatomical phantoms before and after compensation.

Results: MLEM converged to an accurate (6.4% RMS residual scatter error) estimate within 12 iterations. Both contrast and noise were increased in the processed images as iteration progressed. In the lung, contrast was increased 108% and SNR was improved by 10%. In the retrocardiac region, contrast was increased 180% while SNR decreased by 6%.

Conclusions: This is the first report of a post-acquisition scatter compensation technique which can increase SNR. These results suggest that statistical estimation techniques can enhance image quality and quantitative accuracy for digital chest radiography.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Humans
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Models, Structural
  • Radiographic Image Enhancement / methods*
  • Radiography, Thoracic / methods*
  • Scattering, Radiation