title: Imaging of trace elements in tissues: with a focus on laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Elemental imaging techniques are capable of showing the spatial distribution of elements in a sample. Their application in biomedical sciences is promising, but they are not yet widely employed. The review gives a short overview about techniques available and then focuses on the advantages of using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for elemental bioimaging. Current examples for the use of elemental imaging with medical context are given to illustrate the potential of this type of analysis for clinical applications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recently, synchrotron-based techniques and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry have been successfully applied to analyse the spatial distribution of elements in biological samples of medical relevance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elemental bioimaging methods have a great potential for medical applications. They are complementary to molecular imaging and histological staining and are especially attractive when used in combination with stable isotope tracer experiments.
authors.affiliation: aTrace Element Speciation Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, College of Physical Science bMicronutrients Group, Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Dagmar S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Urgast
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Beattie
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feldmann
mesh_terms: D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D014131:Trace Elements
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements