A systematic performance analysis of the simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (SART) for limited angle tomography

The design of limited angle tomography systems requires the optimization of various imaging parameters in order to achieve useful as well as reliable results. Algebraic reconstruction techniques, specifically the SART algorithm, have given excellent results in CT and are being actively considered for limited angle commercial applications such as tomosynthesis. In this study, we simulate a range of limited angle scenarios by systematically varying a number of key imaging parameters, and examine the performance of the SART algorithm under these variations. The phantoms used are basic ellipsoids in 2D, yielding analytical projections, and an MR-derived breast phantom in 3D.