title: Heavy-ion radiography: density resolution and specimen radiography.
abstract: Heavy-ion radiography is performed by the passage of a beam of nuclei accelerated to energies of several hundred MeV/nucleon through an object. The technique of recording transmitted nuclei in a downstream stack of plastic sheets affords excellent resolution of density by recording the nuclei only at their stopping points. Imaging of a phantom--which stimulated tumors of low density contrast in a body part--by conventional radiography, computed tomographic scanning and the heavy-ion technique indicated superior density resolution for heavy-ion imaging at radiation dose. Superior imaging of tumors in pathologic specimens was demonstrated for heavy-ion imaging compared to conventional radiography. Values of stopping power for various tumors and normal tissues were determined by a computer-aided technique. Heavy-ion radiography shows promise for superior imaging of low contrast tumors at relatively low radiation low levels.
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D002244:Carbon; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000175:diagnosis; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006801:Humans; D007477:Ions; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D008961:Models, Structural; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010100:Oxygen; D010315:Particle Accelerators; D013710:Tendons
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D002244:Carbon; D010100:Oxygen