title: [Feasibility of flat-panel volumetric computed tomography (fpVCT) in experimental small animal imaging of osteoporosis - initial experience].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Flat-panel volumetric computed tomography (fpVCT) is a new, noninvasive CT imaging modality with increased isotropic resolution. Technical details, potential applications, and our initial experience with a fpVCT prototype scanner in the imaging of osteoporosis in a rat model are presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  To date, 21 rats have been investigated in vivo with fpVCT. Pharmacologic effects on bone mineral density (BMD) and structure were of special interest. Image evaluation focussed on the second lumbar vertebra and the left femoral bone. To validate measurement results, BMD values calculated with fpVCT were correlated with results of BMD measurements from ashing of the second lumbar vertebra and femoral bones.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our initial results show that fpVCT is capable of detecting differences in BMD between ovariectomized rats treated with estradiol and a control group with high statistical significance (p<0.05), corresponding to ashing as the gold standard.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a rat model, fpVCT imaging is especially useful in longitudinal in vivo investigations of BMD measures. Spatial resolution of up to 150 microm allows imaging of the trabecular structure only in human cadaveric bones.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Diagnostische Radiologie, Universitätsklinikum Göttingen. ray.valencia@med.uni-goettingen.de
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valencia
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Stuermer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dullin
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kluever
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaroban
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sehmisch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Funke
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Knollmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011859:Radiography; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014963:X-Ray Intensifying Screens