title: Medical applications with synchrotron radiation in Japan.
abstract: In Japan, various medical applications of synchrotron X-ray imaging, such as angiography, monochromatic X-ray computed tomography (CT), radiography and radiation therapy, are being developed. In particular, coronary arteriography (CAG) is quite an important clinical application of synchrotron radiation. Using a two-dimensional imaging method, the first human intravenous CAG was carried out at KEK in May 1996; however, further improvements of image quality are required in clinical practice. On the other hand, two-dimensional aortographic CAG revealed canine coronary arteries as clearly as those on selective CAG, and coronary arteries less than 0.2 mm in diameter. Among applications of synchrotron radiation to X-ray CT, phase-contrast X-ray CT and fluorescent X-ray CT are expected to be very interesting future applications of synchrotron radiation. For actual clinical applications of synchrotron radiation, a medical beamline and a laboratory are now being constructed at SPring-8 in Harima.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Itai
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hyodo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akatsuka
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Uyama