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In SPECT, noise is one of the major limitations that degrade image quality. To suppress the noisy signals in an image, digital filters are most commonly applied. However, in SPECT image reconstruction, selection of an appropriate filter and its functions has always remained a difficult task. In this work an attempt was made to investigate the effects of varying cut-off frequencies and in keeping the order of Butterworth filter constant on detectability and contrast of hot and cold regions images. A new insert simulating hot and cold regions which provides similar views in a reconstructed image was placed in the phantom's cylindrical source tank and imaged. Tc-99m radionuclide was distributed uniformly in the phantom. SPECT data were collected in a 20% energy window centered at 140 keV by a Philips ADAC Forte dual head gamma camera mounted with a LEHR collimator. Images were generated by using the filtered backprojection technique. A Butterworth filter of order 5 with cut-off frequencies 0.35 and 0.45 cycles•cm −1 was applied. Images were examined in terms of hot and cold regions, detectability and contrast. Results show that the hot and cold regions' detectability and contrast vary with the change of cut-off frequency. With a 0.45 cycles•cm −1 cut-off frequency, a significant enhancement in contrast of cold regions was achieved as compared to a 0.35 cycles•cm −1 cut-off frequency. Furthermore, the detectability of hot and cold regions improved with the use of a 0.45 cycles•cm −1 cut-off frequency. In conclusion, image quality of hot and cold regions affected in a different way with a change of cut-off frequency. Thus, care should be taken in selecting the filter cut-off frequency prior to reconstruction of images; particularly, when both types of regions are expected in the reconstructed image.

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In single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging, the choice of a suitable filter and its parameters for noise reduction purposes is a big challenge. Adverse effects on image quality arise if an improper filter is selected. Filtered back projection (FBP) is the most popular technique for image reconstruction in SPECT. With this technique, different types of reconstruction filters are used, such as the Butterworth and the Hamming. In this study, the effects on the quality of reconstructed images of the Butterworth filter were compared with the ones of the Hamming filter. A Philips ADAC forte gamma camera was used. A low-energy, high-resolution collimator was installed on the gamma camera. SPECT data were acquired by scanning a phantom with an insert composed of hot and cold regions. A Technetium-99m radioactive solution was homogenously mixed into the phantom. Furthermore, a symmetrical energy window (20%) centered at 140 keV was adjusted. Images were reconstructed by the FBP method. Various cutoff frequency values, namely, 0.35, 0.40, 0.45, and 0.50 cycles/cm, were selected for both filters, whereas for the Butterworth filter, the order was set at 7. Images of hot and cold regions were analyzed in terms of detectability, contrast, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The findings of our study indicate that the Butterworth filter was able to expose more hot and cold regions in reconstructed images. In addition, higher contrast values were recorded, as compared to the Hamming filter. However, with the Butterworth filter, the decrease in SNR for both types of regions with the increase in cutoff frequency as compared to the Hamming filter was obtained. Overall, the Butterworth filter under investigation provided superior results than the Hamming filter. Effects of both filters on the quality of hot and cold region images varied with the change in cutoff frequency.

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