Evaluation of a 3D reconstruction algorithm for multi-slice PET scanners

A fully 3D reconstruction algorithm based on filtered backprojection was evaluated for the reconstruction of data obtained with multi-slice positron emission tomography (PET) scanners which have had the septa removed. This algorithm uses forward-projection through the reconstructed images of a 2D subset of the data to complete the 3D dataset thus satisfying the condition of shift invariance. This is followed by 3D filtered backprojection. Axial sampling was doubled by combining adjacent polar angles, thus improving reconstructed axial resolution. The algorithm was tested using real and simulated datasets and gave high quality reconstructions without artifacts over a wide range of imaging conditions. (author)