In Vitro Evaluation of Normal and Abnormal Lungs With Ultra-High-Resolution CT

Abstract

Synchrotron radiation microtomography is a new technique with high directionality of a synchrotron radiation beam and a high-resolution detector array. In this study, we estimated the visualization of the peripheral human lung structure with an ultra-high-resolution computed tomography (CT) system, the synchrotron radiation CT. The synchrotron radiation CT system uses the bending magnet beamline emitted from the 8.0 GeV electron storage ring. Six lung specimens were obtained at autopsy: 3 normal, 1 cellular alveolitis, 1 diffuse alveolar damage, and 1 pulmonary hemorrhage. Each specimen was cut down to a cylindrical sample with 6-mm diameter and 15- to 25-mm height. The synchrotron radiation CT images of these lung samples were obtained using the ultra-high-resolution image detector system with a charge coupled device (CCD) array detector (1024 x 1024 pixels with 12 x 12 microm2 pixel size). After that, the sample specimens were sliced to 200 microm (micrometer) thickness, and were observed with a stereomicroscope and by contact radiography. Finally, approximately 10-microm thick microscopic images were obtained and compared with the synchrotron radiation CT images. The synchrotron radiation CT could depict the peripheral lung including peripheral airways, airspaces, and alveolar walls individually. Each finding in the 3 disease processes seen on the synchrotron radiation CT images correlated well with the microscopic findings. The synchrotron radiation CT allows microtomographic imaging of human lung specimens with ultra high-spatial resolution (12 microm) on a level approaching that of conventional histopathology, without sectioning.

Quantitative 3D Micro-CT Imaging of Human Lung Tissue

“…Nevertheless, it does not quantify the loss of tissue. Ikura et al [20] demonstrated synchrotron-based micro-CT imaging of human lung specimens with different histopathological patterns as cellular alveolitis, diffuse alveolar damage, and pulmonary hemorrhage. They demonstrated a good correlation between histology and micro-CT findings.…”

High resolution tomographic imaging of the alveolar region of the mammalian lung

“…The brilliant, highly collimated beam provides a nearly ideal X-ray source for µCT [117], producing greater spatial resolution. This allows high-resolution imaging of unprocessed lung tissue [15,[118][119][120][121] and ultra high resolution (from <1 to 15 µm, with tissue thicknesses of 1500 µm) visualization and 3d reconstruction of small airways and alveoli in processed tissue [18,122].…”

Clinical step onward with X-ray dark-field imaging and perspective view of medical applications of synchrotron radiation in Japan

“…For visualization of the peripheral human lung obtained at autopsy, each specimen was cut down to a cylindrical shape with 6 mm diameter. The micro-CT system with a pixel size of 12 mm was capable of depicting individual components of the lung structure, including peripheral airways, airspaces, and alveolar walls [5]. Fig.…”