Evaluation of image filters for their integration with LSQR computerized tomography reconstruction method

PLoS One. 2020 Mar 3;15(3):e0229113. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229113. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

In CT (computerized tomography) imaging reconstruction, the acquired sinograms are usually noisy, so artifacts will appear on the resulting images. Thus, it is necessary to find the adequate filters to combine with reconstruction methods that eliminate the greater amount of noise possible without altering in excess the information that the image contains. The present work is focused on the evaluation of several filtering techniques applied in the elimination of artifacts present in CT sinograms. In particular, we analyze the elimination of Gaussian and Speckle noise. The chosen filtering techniques have been studied using four functions designed to measure the quality of the filtered image and compare it with a reference image. In this way, we determine the ideal parameters to carry out the filtering process on the sinograms, prior to the process of reconstruction of the images. Moreover, we study their application on reconstructed noisy images when using noisy sinograms and finally we select the best filter to combine with an iterative reconstruction method in order to test if it improves the quality of the images. With this, we can determine the feasibility of using the selected filtering method for our CT reconstructions with projections reduction, concluding that the bilateral filter is the filter that behaves best with our images. We will test it when combined with our iterative reconstruction method, which consists on the Least Squares QR method in combination with a regularization technique and an acceleration step, showing how integrating this filter with our reconstruction method improves the quality of the CT images.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Artifacts
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted* / instrumentation
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted* / methods
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted* / standards
  • Least-Squares Analysis
  • Normal Distribution
  • Phantoms, Imaging* / standards
  • Quality Control
  • Signal-To-Noise Ratio
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed* / instrumentation
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed* / methods
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed* / standards

Grants and funding

This research has been supported by “Universitat Politècnica de València”, “Generalitat Valenciana” under PROMETEO/2018/035 as well as ACIF/2017/075 predoctoral grant co-financed by FEDER and FSE funds, and “Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities” under Grant RTI2018-098156-B-C54 co-financed by FEDER funds.