Quantitative breast tissue characterization using grating-based x-ray phase-contrast imaging

Willner, Marian; Herzen, Julia; Grandl, Susanne; Auweter, Sigrid; Mayr, Doris; Hipp, Alexander; Chabior, Michael; Sarapata, Adrian; Achterhold, Klaus; Zanette, Irène; Weitkamp, Timm; Sztrókay, A; Hellerhoff, Karin; Reiser, Maximilian; Pfeiffer, Franz

doi:10.1088/0031-9155/59/7/1557

Cited by 69 publications

(68 citation statements)

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“…Mainly relatively small samples (maximum 30 mm in diameter) composed of low-Z materials have been investigated [1][2][3]. When larger samples are of interest, asymmetric rotation axis position can be used [4] which works well only with parallel beam reconstruction and at the expense of increased measurement time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative imaging using high-energy X-ray phase-contrast CT with a 70 kVp polychromatic X-ray spectrum

Sarapata¹,

Willner²,

Walter³

et al. 2015

Opt. Express

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Abstract:Imaging of large and dense objects with grating-based X-ray phase-contrast computed tomography requires high X-ray photon energy and large fields of view. It has become increasingly possible due to the improvements in the grating manufacturing processes. Using a high-energy X-ray phase-contrast CT setup with a large (10 cm in diameter) analyzer grating and operated at an acceleration tube voltage of 70 kVp, we investigate the complementarity of both attenuation and phase contrast modalities with materials of various atomic numbers (Z). We confirm experimentally that for low-Z materials, phase contrast yields no additional information content over attenuation images, yet it provides increased contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs). The complementarity of both signals can be seen again with increasing Z of the materials and a more comprehensive material characterization is thus possible. Imaging of a part of a human cervical spine with intervertebral discs surrounded by bones and various soft tissue types showcases the benefit of high-energy X-ray phase-contrast system. Phase-contrast reconstruction reveals the internal structure of the discs and makes the boundary between the disc annulus and nucleus pulposus visible. Despite the fact that it still remains challenging to develop a high-energy grating interferometer with a broad polychromatic source with satisfactory optical performance, improved image quality for phase contrast as compared to attenuation contrast can be obtained and new exciting applications foreseen. gratings for x-ray phase contrast imaging," AIP Conf.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative imaging using high-energy X-ray phase-contrast CT with a 70 kVp polychromatic X-ray spectrum

Sarapata¹,

Willner²,

Walter³

et al. 2015

Opt. Express

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“…The water bath was introduced to avoid the occurrence of too strong signals at the edges of the plastic cylinders that can degrade image quality. It further facilitates to perform quantitative tissue characterization as recently demonstrated in [22].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Visualizing Typical Features of Breast Fibroadenomas Using Phase-Contrast CT: An Ex-Vivo Study

Grandl¹,

Willner

Herzen

et al. 2014

PLoS ONE

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BackgroundFibroadenoma is the most common benign solid breast lesion type and a very common cause for histologic assessment. To justify a conservative therapy, a highly specific discrimination between fibroadenomas and other breast lesions is crucial. Phase-contrast imaging offers improved soft-tissue contrast and differentiability of fine structures combined with the potential of 3-dimensional imaging. In this study we assessed the potential of grating-based phase-contrast CT imaging for visualizing diagnostically relevant features of fibroadenomas.Materials and MethodsGrating-based phase-contrast CT was performed on six ex-vivo formalin-fixed breast specimens containing a fibroadenoma and three samples containing benign changes that resemble fibroadenomas using Talbot Lau interferometry and a polychromatic X-ray source. Phase-contrast and simultaneously acquired absorption-based 3D-datasets were manually matched with corresponding histological slices. The visibility of diagnostically valuable features was assessed in comparison with histology as the gold-standard.ResultsIn all cases, matching of grating-based phase-contrast CT images and histology was successfully completed. Grating-based phase-contrast CT showed greatly improved differentiation of fine structures and provided accurate depiction of strands of fibrous tissue within the fibroadenomas as well as of the diagnostically valuable dilated, branched ductuli of the fibroadenomas. A clear demarcation of tumor boundaries in all cases was provided by phase- but not absorption-contrast CT.ConclusionsPending successful translation of the technology to a clinical setting and considerable reduction of the required dose, the data presented here suggest that grating-based phase-contrast CT may be used as a supplementary non-invasive diagnostic tool in breast diagnostics. Phase-contrast CT may thus contribute to the reduction of false positive findings and reduce the recall and core biopsy rate in population-based screening. Phase-contrast CT may further be used to assist during histopathological workup, offering a 3D view of the tumor and helping to identify diagnostically valuable tissue sections within large tumors.

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“…They have also demonstrated the recovery of three contrast mechanisms with a single scan (absorption contrast, differential phase contrast, and dark field scatter contrast) [179, 180] and have developed a prototype small animal scanner in collaboration with Bruker MicroCT [180, 181]. Additionally, they have demonstrated the potential value of differential phase contrast and dark field imaging in several applications including cancer identification and classification [182, 183] and lung imaging [184]. Fig.…”

Section: Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micro-CT of rodents: State-of-the-art and future perspectives

2014

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Micron-scale computed tomography (micro-CT) is an essential tool for phenotyping and for elucidating diseases and their therapies. This work is focused on preclinical micro-CT imaging, reviewing relevant principles, technologies, and applications. Commonly, micro-CT provides high-resolution anatomic information, either on its own or in conjunction with lower-resolution functional imaging modalities such as positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). More recently, however, advanced applications of micro-CT produce functional information by translating clinical applications to model systems (e.g. measuring cardiac functional metrics) and by pioneering new ones (e.g. measuring tumor vascular permeability with nanoparticle contrast agents). The primary limitations of micro-CT imaging are the associated radiation dose and relatively poor soft tissue contrast. We review several image reconstruction strategies based on iterative, statistical, and gradient sparsity regularization, demonstrating that high image quality is achievable with low radiation dose given ever more powerful computational resources. We also review two contrast mechanisms under intense development. The first is spectral contrast for quantitative material discrimination in combination with passive or actively targeted nanoparticle contrast agents. The second is phase contrast which measures refraction in biological tissues for improved contrast and potentially reduced radiation dose relative to standard absorption imaging. These technological advancements promise to develop micro-CT into a commonplace, functional and even molecular imaging modality.

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Quantitative breast tissue characterization using grating-based x-ray phase-contrast imaging

Cited by 69 publications

References 50 publications

Quantitative imaging using high-energy X-ray phase-contrast CT with a 70 kVp polychromatic X-ray spectrum

Quantitative imaging using high-energy X-ray phase-contrast CT with a 70 kVp polychromatic X-ray spectrum

Visualizing Typical Features of Breast Fibroadenomas Using Phase-Contrast CT: An Ex-Vivo Study

Micro-CT of rodents: State-of-the-art and future perspectives

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