Potential applications of flat-panel volumetric CT in morphologic and functional small animal imaging.
Noninvasive radiologic imaging has recently gained considerable interest in basic and preclinical research for monitoring disease progression and therapeutic efficacy. In this report, we introduce flat-panel volumetric computed tomography (fpVCT) as a powerful new tool for noninvasive imaging of different organ systems in preclinical research. The three-dimensional visualization that is achieved by isotropic high-resolution datasets is illustrated for the skeleton, chest, abdominal organs, and brain of mice. The high image quality of chest scans enables the visualization of small lung nodules in an orthotopic lung cancer model and the reliable imaging of therapy side effects such as lung fibrosis. Using contrast-enhanced scans, fpVCT displayed the vascular trees of the brain, liver, and kidney down to the subsegmental level. Functional application of fpVCT in dynamic contrast-enhanced scans of the rat brain delivered physiologically reliable data of perfusion and tissue blood volume. Beyond scanning of small animal models as demonstrated here, fpVCT provides the ability to image animals up to the size of primates.
Greschus
Susanne
S
Department of Neuroradiology, University Giessen, Klinikstrasse 29, Giessen 35385, Germany. susanne.greschus@ukb.uni-bonn.de
Kiessling
Fabian
F
Lichy
Matthias P
MP
Moll
Jens
J
Mueller
Margareta M
MM
Savai
Rajkumar
R
Rose
Frank
F
Ruppert
Clemens
C
Günther
Andreas
A
Luecke
Marcus
M
Fusenig
Norbert E
NE
Semmler
Wolfhard
W
Traupe
Horst
H
D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018827:Carcinoma, Lewis Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary*; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010477:Perfusion; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary*