A scatter correction method for Tl-201 images: A Monte Carlo investigation

Results from the application of a modified dual photopeak window scatter correction method to Monte Carlo simulated Tl-201 emission images are presented. In the Monte Carlo investigation, individual simulations are performed for six radiation emissions of Tl-201. For each emission, point sources of Tl-201 are imaged at various locations in a water-filled elliptical tub phantom using three energy windows. The DPW method is applied to each point source image to estimate the scatter distribution. For point source images in both homogeneous and nonhomogeneous attenuating media, the application of this modified version of DPW results in an approximately sixfold reduction in the scatter fraction and an excellent agreement of the shape of the tails between the estimated scatter distribution and the Monte Carlo-simulated truth. This method is also applied to two views of an extended cardiac distribution within an anthropomorphic phantom, again resulting in at least a sixfold improvement between the scatter estimate and the Monte Carlo-simulated true scatter.<
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