True-color radiographic enhancement by retrospective scatter deconvolution

True-color radiography is a dual-energy digital radiographic technique using colors overlayed on the conventional gray-scale image to encode the transmitted spectral properties of the object. Scattered radiation, however, degrades the sensitivity and specificity. Accurate removal of scatter is accomplished by retrospective digital processing with deconvolution filters defined and parameterized for the image acquisition (x-ray energy, field size, air gap grid, and object thickness). Resultant enhanced discrimination of the energy-dependent elemental composition of various tissues allows better color-encoding capabilities and increased sensitivity to subtle changes in relative attenuation properties within a defined area of the image (for instance, calcifications embedded in soft tissue). Implementation of the scatter deconvolution process is straightforward and rapid, improving the usefulness of the technique