title: X-ray refraction effects: application to the imaging of biological tissues.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore the potential of refraction contrast X-ray imaging of biological tissues. Images of dissected mouse lungs, heart, liver and legs were produced using the medical beamline at the Elettra Synchrotron at Trieste, Italy. The technique used was diffraction enhanced imaging. This utilizes a silicon crystal positioned between the tissue sample and the detector to separate refracted X-rays from transmitted and scattered radiation by Bragg diffraction. The contrast in the images produced is related to changes in the X-ray refractive index of the tissues, resulting in remarkable clarity compared with conventional X-ray images based on absorption effects. These changes were greatest at the boundaries between different tissues, giving a marked edge enhancement effect and three-dimensional appearance to the images. The technique provides a way of imaging a property of biological tissues not yet exploited, and further studies are planned to identify specific applications in medical imaging.
authors.affiliation: Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington WA4 4AD, UK.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Hufton
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Menk
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arfelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rigon
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tromba
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Dance
authors.forename: I O
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Pinder
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005121:Extremities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000379:methods