Evaluation of algorithmic requirements for clinical application of material decomposition using a multi-layer flat panel detector.

Purpose: The combination of multi-layer flat panel detector (FPDT) X-ray imaging and physics-based material decomposition algorithms allows for the removal of anatomical structures. However, the reliability of these algorithms may be compromised by unaccounted materials or scattered radiation.

Approach: We investigated the two-material decomposition performance of a multi-layer FPDT in the context of 2D chest radiography without and with a 13:1 anti-scatter grid employed. A matrix-based material decomposition (MBMD) (equivalent to weighted logarithmic subtraction), a matrix-based material decomposition with polynomial beam hardening pre-correction (MBMD-PBC), and a projection domain decomposition were evaluated. The decomposition accuracy of simulated data was evaluated by comparing the bone and soft tissue images to the ground truth using the structural similarity index measure (SSIM). Simulation results were supported by experiments using a commercially available triple-layer FPDT retrofitted to a digital X-ray system.

Results: Independent of the selected decomposition algorithm, uncorrected scatter leads to negative bone estimates, resulting in small SSIM values and bone structures to remain visible in soft tissue images. Even with a 13:1 anti-scatter grid employed, bone images continue to show negative bone estimates, and bone structures appear in soft tissue images. Adipose tissue on the contrary has an almost negligible effect.

Conclusions: In a contact scan, scattered radiation leads to negative bone contrast estimates in the bone images and remaining bone contrast in the soft tissue images. Therefore, accurate scatter estimation and correction algorithms are essential when aiming for material decomposition using image data obtained with a multi-layer FPDT.