An analytical model for Compton scatter in a homogeneously attenuating medium

Abstract
Accurate reconstruction of SPECT images is hampered by four nonlinear effects in the acquisition process: attenuation, scatter, collimator acceptance angle, and statistical noise. A good mathematical description of these effects is obviously crucial for the reconstruction. Poisson noise, attenuation, and collimator acceptance angle are relatively easy to model. Scattering, however, is a very complex process, and is mostly described using empirical models. A new model for the scatter point spread function in a homogeneous medium that is based on physical considerations and is capable of predicting scatter contributions of point sources as a function of depth in homogeneous media is presented. The model is verified with Monte Carlo simulations and line source measurements, and is compared to an existing empirical model.

This publication has 8 references indexed in Scilit: