Realistic X-ray CT simulation of the XCAT phantom with SINDBAD

An efficient simulation tool is developed to generate realistic X-ray CT images, including a good modeling of physics and a very detailed anthropomorphic model in a reasonable computing time. This simulation tool consists in a coupling of the existing X-ray radiographic simulation software SINDBAD with the extended NURBS-Based Cardiac-Torso (XCAT) phantom. Both primary and scatter contributions in X-ray CT projections are calculated thanks to a combination of analytical and Monte Carlo approaches. The representation of the XCAT phantom is adapted to the level of resolution required by the primary and scatter images. We present in this paper first X-ray CT projection data which are simulated under an angiography configuration. Although the XCAT phantom is complex, the computation time is reasonable, even with the estimation of the scatter radiation. In future studies, similar simulations will be performed in real clinical CT scanner conditions, with an accurate modelling of detectors and a finer representation of the XCAT phantom, and will be compared with real X-rays CT images for validation.