In accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure, a process to estimate scattered radiation contained in x-ray projections for computed tomography (CT) reconstruction is provided. The process may construct an object model 215 based on a plurality of projection images 205 generated by CT scanning of an object using an x-ray radiation source and a detector panel. The process may construct 230 a virtual radiation source based on the x-ray radiation source, and a virtual detector panel based on the detector panel. The process may perform a simulated CT scanning 220 of the object model by simulating macroscopic behavior of particles being emitted from the virtual radiation source, passing through the object model, and being detected by the virtual detector panel. And the process may generate a simulated scatter image based on a first subset of particles scattered during the simulated CT scanning of the object model.