Application of synchrotron X-ray imaging to phase objects in orthopedics.
Novel imaging of the fine structures of the ribs of a pig and a specimen of human osteosarcoma utilizing the spatial coherence of X-rays was successfully performed with an incident X-ray energy of 30 keV at SPring-8, Japan. The image contrast appearing at the periphery of trabecular bone, small calcifications and small fractures is caused by the phase shift of the X-rays at the boundary of these objects that have different X-ray refractive indices. The image is recorded on mammography film without an intensifying screen. Comparison of the image contrast using different sample-to-film distances, Z, such as Z = 5 m and Z approximately 0 m, showed that the former images were always more informative, i.e. better in resolution and/or image contrast when imaging trabecular bone, bone marrow and small fractures in compact bone, and for imaging cartilage. Radiography using synchrotron X-rays for phase objects should be a powerful tool for diagnosis in orthopedics, especially for bone disease.
Mori
K
K
Department of Radiological Sciences, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Ami 4669-2, Inashiki, Ibaraki 300-0394, Japan. mori@ipu.ac.jp
Sekine
N
N
Sato
H
H
Shimao
D
D
Shiwaku
H
H
Hyodo
K
K
Sugiyama
H
H
Ando
M
M
Ohashi
K
K
Koyama
M
M
Nakajima
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009985:Orthopedics; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D013552:Swine; D017356:Synchrotrons