Normalization of the modulation transfer function: the open-field approach

The modulation transfer function (MTF) is widely used to describe the spatial resolution of x-ray imaging systems. The MTF is defined to have a zero-frequency value of unity, and it is common practice to ensure this by normalizing a measured MTF curve by the zero-frequency value. However, truncation of the line spread function (LSF) within a finite region of interest (ROI) results in spectral leakage and causes a reduction in the measured MTF zero-frequency value equal to the area of truncated LSF tails. Subsequent normalization by this value may result in inflated MTF values. We show that open-field normalization with the edge method produces accurate MTF values at all nonzero frequencies without need for further normalization by the zero-frequency value, regardless of ROI size. While both normalization techniques are equivalent for a sufficiently large ROI, a 5% inflation in MTF values was observed for a CsI-based flat-panel system when using a 10 cm ROI. Use of open-field normalization avoids potential inflation caused by zero-frequency normalization.