Compensating for truncated CT images for use as attenuation maps in emission tomography

1. A process for generating an adjusted attenuation map from a truncated transmission scan of an imaged object using a non-truncated emission scan of the imaged object having an outline, comprising the steps of:

performing a transmission scan of the imaged object about a plurality of projection angles to collect transmission projection data having a field of view (FOV) inside the outline of the imaged object, resulting in truncated transmission projection data;

performing an emission scan of the imaged object about a plurality of projection angles to collect emission projection data having a FOV including the outline of the imaged object;

reconstructing non-truncated emission image volume data;

generating transmission data missing from said collected transmission projection data as a result of said truncation, based on the reconstructed non-truncated emission image volume data wherein the emission scan from the reconstructed non-truncated emission image volume data includes the imaged object outline data needed to generate the data missing from the truncated transmission data;

adding said generated transmission data to said collected transmission data to obtain truncation-compensated transmission data using differential attenuation information (DAI) and CT template matching, wherein DAI exists in the emission scan data extracted from dual or multiple energy acquisitions where multi-emission isotopes are used, and further wherein the CT template matching involves a search of registered images to reveal a CT template dataset for the best matched CT template within the FOV of the truncated transmission projection data;

converting the truncation-compensated transmission data to linear attenuation coefficient data for generating an attenuation map; and

registering the attenuation map with the reconstructed non-truncated emission image volume date to correct said reconstructed non-truncated emission image volume data for effects of attenuation

wherein reconstructing non-truncated emission image volume data includes tomographic reconstruction of emission scan data to generate image volume data.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the transmission scan is an x-ray transmission scan.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the emission scan is obtained by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the step of generating transmission data includes the step of modifying emission data values in a region of transmission data truncation by a predetermined quantity.

5. The process of claim 4 , wherein the predetermined quantity is the attenuation value associated with water.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein registering the attenuation map with the reconstructed emission image comprises the step of using an iterative technique to provide at least one reconstructed image of the imaged object.

7. A process for generating images, comprising:

performing a transmission scan of an imaged object about a plurality of projection angles to collect truncated transmission projection data;

performing an emission scan of the imaged object about a plurality of projection angles to collect non-truncated emission projection data;

reconstructing non-truncated emission image volume data;

locating an outline of the imaged object based on the reconstructed non-truncated emission image volume data, wherein the emission scan from the reconstructed non-truncated emission image volume data includes the imaged object outline data needed to generate the data missing from the truncated transmission data;

deriving from said reconstructed non-truncated emission image volume data transmission data missing from said transmission projection data with respect to said outline as a result of truncation, and adding said derived transmission data to said collected transmission projection data to obtain truncation-compensated transmission data using differential attenuation information (DAI) and CT template matching, wherein DAI exists in the emission scan data extracted from dual or multiple energy acquisitions where multi-emission isotopes are used, and further wherein the CT template matching involves a search of registered images to reveal a CT template dataset for the best matched CT template within the FOV of the truncated transmission projection data;

generating an attenuation map from said truncation-compensated transmission data;

using the emission projection data to provide a reconstructed image of the emission scan; and

registering the attenuation map with the reconstructed non-truncated emission image volume data to correct said reconstructed non-truncated emission image volume data for effects of attenuation

wherein reconstructing non-truncated emission image volume data includes tomographic reconstruction of emission scan data to generate image volume data.

8. The process of claim 7 , wherein generating the attenuation map comprises the step of generating data representing at least one transverse slice, and wherein locating an outline comprises determining the outline of the imaged object in each transverse slice.

9. The process of claim 7 , wherein reconstructing the emission projection data uses an iterative reconstruction technique to generate said at least one image.

10. The process of claim 7 , wherein the step of deriving comprises modifying collected emission data values in a region of transmission data truncation by a predetermined quantity.

11. The process of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined quantity is the attenuation value associated with water.