Image quality in extended arc filtered digital tomosynthesis.

PURPOSE To study image quality in filtered digital tomosynthesis (FDTS) tomograms as a function of their reconstruction arc, using isocentrically acquired, fluoroscopic projection data. MATERIAL AND METHODS Both digital tomosynthesis (DTS) and cone beam CT (CBCT) reconstruction algorithms are based on backprojection and use cone beam projection data as input. Under limited angle conditions, CBCT is reduced to FDTS, where only a subset of projection data are used for reconstruction. The effect of the reconstruction arc on the spatial resolution, slice thickness, contrast sensitivity, shape distortion and artifacts, was also experimentally studied. The investigation was performed using both simulated and actual fluoroscopic images. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Image quality in terms of spatial resolution, slice thickness, shape distortion and artifacts, improved with increasing reconstruction arc and was optimized at 180 degrees, while contrast continued to improve as the arc was increased to 360 degrees. However, DTS was determined to be the technique of choice when reconstruction arcs of less than 40 degrees were used. Consequently, FDTS may be successfully implemented in applications involving extended arc reconstructions, in the range between 40 degrees delimiting the DTS domain and 360 degrees corresponding to CBCT.