Computerized scatter correction in diagnostic radiology

The field of diagnostic radiology continues to generate interesting lines of physics research even though it is over a century since X-rays were first used for medical imaging. One of these concerns scatter processes which are well known to be a major influence on the quality of X-ray images. The components, effects, reduction and measurement of scatter and the potential of computerized scatter correction schemes are reviewed in this paper. The effect of scatter on indices of image quality is considered using analytical models and published experimental results. Scatter measurement based on the widely applied opaque disc technique and a novel aperture technique are discussed in detail. In addition, computerized scatter correction based on convolution filtering schemes and interpolated local sampling schemes are critically reviewed. The treatment focuses on fluoroscopy- fluorography, although extensive reference is also made to other radiographic imaging techniques.