High-resolution brain tumor visualization using three-dimensional x-ray phase contrast tomography.
We report on significant advances and new results concerning a recently developed method for grating-based hard x-ray phase tomography. We demonstrate how the soft tissue sensitivity of the technique is increased and show in vitro tomographic images of a tumor bearing rat brain sample, without use of contrast agents. In particular, we observe that the brain tumor and the white and gray brain matter structure in a rat's cerebellum are clearly resolved. The results are potentially interesting from a clinical point of view, since a similar approach using three transmission gratings can be implemented with more readily available x-ray sources, such as standard x-ray tubes. Moreover, the results open the way to in vivo experiments in the near future.
Pfeiffer
F
F
Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland. franz.pfeiffer@psi.ch <franz.pfeiffer@psi.ch>
Bunk
O
O
David
C
C
Bech
M
M
Le Duc
G
G
Bravin
A
A
Cloetens
P
P
D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018316:Gliosarcoma / Q000473:pathology*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014056:Tomography, X-Ray / Q000379:methods*