A sequential regularization based image reconstruction method for limited-angle spectral CT

Abstract

In spectral computed tomography (CT), the object is respectively scanned under different x-ray spectra. Multiple projection data can be collectively used for reconstructing basis images and virtual monochromatic images, which have been used in material decomposition, beam-hardening correction, bone removal, and so on. In practice, projection data may be obtained in a limited scanning angular range. Images reconstructed from limited-angle data by conventional spectral CT reconstruction methods will be deteriorated by limited-angle related artifacts and basis image decomposition errors. Motivated by observations of limited-angle spectral CT, we propose a sequential regularization-based limited-angle spectral CT reconstruction model and its numerical solver. Both simulated and real data experiments validate that our method is capable of suppressing artifacts, preserving edges and reducing decomposition errors.