An error-reduction-based algorithm for cone-beam computed tomography.

Image reconstruction from cone-beam projections collected along a single circular source trajectory is commonly done using the Feldkamp algorithm, which performs well only with a small cone angle. In this report, we propose an error-reduction-based algorithm to increase the cone angle by several folds to achieve satisfactory image quality at the same radiation dose. In our scheme, we first reconstruct the object using the Feldkamp algorithm. Then, we synthesize cone-beam projection data from the reconstructed volume in the same geometry, and reconstruct the volume again from the synthesized projections. Finally, these two reconstruction results are combined to reduce the reconstruction error and produce a superior image volume. The merit of this algorithm is demonstrated in numerical simulation.