Deep Convolutional Neural Network for Low Projection SPECT Imaging Reconstruction

Abstract: In this paper, we present a novel method for tomographic image reconstruction in SPECT imaging with a low number of projections. Deep convolutional neural networks (CNN) are employed in the new reconstruction method. Projection data from software phantoms were used to train the CNN network. For evaluation of the efficacy of the proposed method, software phantoms and hardware phantoms based on the FOV SPECT system were used. The resulting tomographic images are compared to those produced by the "Maximum Likelihood Expectation Maximisation" (MLEM).