(PSF) The point spread function describes the response of an imaging system to a point or impulse input. A hypothetical point object will generally have an extended (blurred) image resulting from the imaging process; this is the point spread function characterizing the imaging process. Considering any object as composed of an assembly of point objects, knowledge of the PSF permits the prediction of how the object will be imaged, assuming linearity of the imaging process.

See also Resolution, Phantom and Daily Quality Assurance.

Raw data are the values of all measured detector signals during a scan. After calibration for fluctuations in tube output and beam hardening, the attenuation properties of each x-ray signal are accounted and correlated with the ray position. From these data the CT images are reconstructed including the use of mathematical procedures like convolution filtering and back projection.
Raw data can also be used for later reconstruction of additional planes and images by using a different convolution filter, zoom reconstruction, or an alternative CT number scale.

See also Magnification, Archiving, Number of Measurements and Convolution.

Reconstruction is the mathematical process by which the displayed image is produced from the raw data.
Used equipment and data processing methods to reconstruct CT images:
See also Zoom Reconstruction, Reconstruction Matrix and Multiplanar Reconstruction.

(ROI) Keyboard controlled identification of a given area of an image for numerical analysis and the area of anatomy being scanned that is of particular importance in the image. This area can also be a volume, than called (VOI) volume of interest.
A ROI can be used for purposes such as calculation of pixel statistics. ROI measurements should be made with the smallest area and away from boarders and edges to avoid partial volume averaging.

In medical imaging, resolution is the ability to distinguish two adjacent objects and a measurement of image quality. The resolution of tomographic images is a function of slice thickness, field of view (FOV) and matrix size. The resolution in plane is a function of FOV / matrix size.