Abstract
A general expression is derived for the noise due to photon counting statistics in computed X-ray tomography. The variance is inversely proportional to the cube of the resolution distance. For scanners using a water box, the noise in the reconstructed image depends inversely on the number of detected primary photons, summed over all angles, that have passed through a resolution element. Predictions of this formula agree well with the results of computer simulations. It is shown how this formula can be used to determine such parameters as required X-ray flux, detector counting rate, and dose, with special emphasis on tradeoffs between these parameters and resolution. It is also shown that to determine the X-ray attenuation coefficient of a resolution element to a given precision, the number of photons required by computed X-ray tomography is close to a theoretical limit.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 64-74 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Journal of computer assisted tomography |
| Volume | 1 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1977 |
Keywords
- Computed tomography
- Statistical noise
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging