ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to highlight the advantages that propagation-based phase-contrast computed tomography (PB-CT) with synchrotron radiation can provide in breast cancer diagnostics. For the first time, a fresh and intact mastectomy sample from a 60 year old patient was scanned on the IMBL beamline at the Australian Synchrotron in PB-CT mode and reconstructed. The clinical picture was described and characterized by an experienced breast radiologist, who underlined the advantages of providing diagnosis on a PB-CT volume rather than conventional two-dimensional modalities. Subsequently, the image quality was assessed by 11 breast radiologists and medical imaging experts using a radiological scoring system. The results indicate that, with the radiation dose delivered to the sample being equal, the accuracy of a diagnosis made on PB-CT images is significantly higher than one using conventional techniques.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Synchrotrons , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods , Breast Neoplasms/surgery , Female , Humans , In Vitro Techniques , Mastectomy , Middle Aged , Radiation Dosage , Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted , Signal-To-Noise RatioSubject(s)
Brain Ischemia/pathology , Electroencephalography/methods , Stroke/pathology , Cerebrovascular Circulation/physiology , Female , Fibrinolytic Agents/therapeutic use , Frontal Lobe/pathology , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Magnetoencephalography , Middle Aged , Tissue Plasminogen Activator/therapeutic use , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
To assess the feasibility of small soft tissue avascular tumor micro-CT imaging with x-ray phase-contrast in-line holography, we have studied micro-CT imaging with in-line geometry of small spheroidal avascular tumor models with quiescent cell core (< 250 mum) and various distributions of the proliferating cell density (PCD) forming the outer shell. We have simulated imaging with an ultrafast laser-based x-ray source with a Mo target. We observe phase-contrast enhancement of the tumor boundaries in the reconstructed transaxial images, resulting in improved detection of small soft tissue tumors, providing that the PCD density gradient is sufficiently large.
ABSTRACT
The X-ray ultramicroscope (XuM), based on using a scanning electron microscope as host, provides a new approach to X-ray projection microscopy. The right-angle-type integrated sample cells described here expand the capabilities of the XuM technique. The integrated sample cell combines a target, a spacer, a sample chamber, and an exit window in one physical unit, thereby simplifying the instrumentation and providing increased mechanical stability. The XuM imaging results presented here, obtained using such right-angle integrated sample cells, clearly demonstrate the ability to characterize very small features in objects, down to of order 100nm, including their use for dry, wet and even liquid samples.
