An innovative phantom for quantitative and qualitative investigation of advanced x-ray imaging technologies.

Development, characterization, and quality assurance of advanced x-ray imaging technologies require phantoms that are quantitative and well suited to such modalities. This note reports on the design, construction, and use of an innovative phantom developed for advanced imaging technologies (e.g., multi-detector CT and the numerous applications of flat-panel detectors in dual-energy imaging, tomosynthesis, and cone-beam CT) in diagnostic and image-guided procedures. The design addresses shortcomings of existing phantoms by incorporating criteria satisfied by no other single phantom: (1) inserts are fully 3D--spherically symmetric rather than cylindrical; (2) modules are quantitative, presenting objects of known size and contrast for quality assurance and image quality investigation; (3) features are incorporated in ideal and semi-realistic (anthropomorphic) contexts; and (4) the phantom allows devices to be inserted and manipulated in an accessible module (right lung). The phantom consists of five primary modules: (1) head, featuring contrast-detail spheres approximate to brain lesions; (2) left lung, featuring contrast-detail spheres approximate to lung modules; (3) right lung, an accessible hull in which devices may be placed and manipulated; (4) liver, featuring contrast-detail spheres approximate to metastases; and (5) abdomen/pelvis, featuring simulated kidneys, colon, rectum, bladder, and prostate. The phantom represents a two-fold evolution in design philosophy--from 2D (cylindrically symmetric) to fully 3D, and from exclusively qualitative or quantitative to a design accommodating quantitative study within an anatomical context. It has proven a valuable tool in investigations throughout our institution, including low-dose CT, dual-energy radiography, and cone-beam CT for image-guided radiation therapy and surgery.

Development of a dose-response bioassay for stanniocalcin in fish.

Stanniocalcin (STC) is a polypeptide hormone that was first discovered in fish and recently identified in mammals. In fish, STC is released into the bloodstream in classical endocrine fashion and has well established regulatory effects on calcium and phosphate homeostasis. However, there are no suitable dose-response bioassays for STC and consequently no methods for assigning units of potency to preparations of the hormone. All the available in vitro bioassays are too complex from a technical standpoint to readily accommodate the large number of samples required in dose-response bioassays. Most in vivo bioassays are hampered by the fact that fish have natural rhythms governing plasma STC levels which tend to make them variably sensitive to the injected hormone. In this report we have developed a new in vivo bioassay for STC using rainbow trout. The key feature of the bioassay involves suppressing plasma STC levels to the extent that fish are always receptive to injected hormone. This has been accomplished by phosphate-loading the animals, which lowers their plasma calcium levels, removes the stimulus for STC secretion and brings about a reduction in resting plasma hormone levels. The net effect is an animal that is always responsive to injected STC. With this bioassay we have been able to obtain sensitive and reproducible, dose-related effects of salmon STC on gill calcium transport.