Noise reduction in radiation image

A computer-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions that when executed perform a method, comprising:

• estimating a first noise contribution to an image yielded from a radiation examination of an object to derive a target noise contribution;
• filtering the image to generate a first filtered image;
• estimating a second noise contribution to the first filtered image;
• comparing the target noise contribution to the second noise contribution to determine whether the target noise contribution has been satisfied by the filtering;
• and
• combining the first filtered image with the image when, responsive to the comparing, the target noise contribution has been satisfied by the filtering.

A radiation imaging system, comprising:

• a radiation source configured to expose an object under examination to radiation;
• a detector array configured to produce one or more signals based upon detecting at least some of the radiation that traverses the object;
• an image reconstruction component configured to reconstruct an image based upon the one or more signals;
• and
• a noise reduction component configured to:
• estimate a first noise contribution to the image to derive a target noise contribution;
• filter the image to generate a first filtered image;
• estimate a second noise contribution to the first filtered image;
• compare the target noise contribution to the second noise contribution to determine whether the target noise contribution has been satisfied by the filtering;
• and
• combine the first filtered image with the image when, responsive to the comparing, the target noise contribution has been satisfied by the filtering.