title: Quantitative Three-Dimensional Imaging of Lipid, Protein, and Water Contents via X-Ray Phase-Contrast Tomography.
abstract: X-ray phase-contrast computed tomography is an emerging imaging technology with powerful capabilities for three-dimensional (3D) visualization of weakly absorbing objects such as biological soft tissues. This technique is an extension of existing X-ray applications because conventional attenuation-contrast images are simultaneously acquired. The complementary information provided by both the contrast modalities suggests that enhanced material characterization is possible when performing combined data analysis. In this study, we describe how protein, lipid, and water concentrations in each 3D voxel can be quantified by vector decomposition. Experimental results of dairy products, porcine fat and rind, and different human soft tissue types are presented. The results demonstrate the potential of phase-contrast imaging as a new analysis tool. The 3D representations of protein, lipid, and water contents open up new opportunities in the fields of biology, medicine, and food science.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Institute of Medical Engineering, Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany.|Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Willner
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Institute of Medical Engineering, Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viermetz
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Institute of Medical Engineering, Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marschner
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Institute of Medical Engineering, Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fingerle
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Noël
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rummeny
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Institute of Medical Engineering, Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Institute of Medical Engineering, Technische Universität München, Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herzen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000502:physiology; D003611:Dairy Products / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D000069466:Red Meat / Q000032:analysis; D013552:Swine; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D011506:Proteins; D014867:Water