X-Ray Phase-Contrast Technology in Breast Imaging: Principles, Options, and Clinical Application

Taba, Seyedamir Tavakoli; Gureyev, T. E.; Alakhras, Maram; Lewis, Sarah; Lockie, Darren; Brennan, Patrick C.

doi:10.2214/ajr.17.19179

Cited by 51 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 85 publications

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“…The main difference between DBT and CT is that the first is a limited-angle tomographic technique, while the second is a 360° angle technique, providing full three-dimensional capability. Recently, dedicated CT devices developed for breast assessment, using technologies such as “cone-beam” and “phase-contrast”, have shown promising results [ 9 , 10 ]. Moreover, the use of iodinated contrast media on contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM), which are the same media used on CT, has proven to be as effective as the paramagnetic contrast used on MRI to characterize tumor vascularity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multidetector Computed Tomography with Dedicated Protocol for Breast Cancer Locoregional Staging: Feasibility Study

et al. 2020

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Background: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of performing multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) with a dedicated protocol for locoregional staging in breast cancer patients. Methods: This prospective single-center study included newly diagnosed breast cancer patients submitted to contrast-enhanced chest MDCT and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MDCT was performed in prone position and using subtraction techniques. Fleiss’ Kappa coefficient (K) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to assess agreement between MRI, MDCT, and pathology, when available. Results: Thirty-three patients were included (mean age: 47 years). Breast MRI and MDCT showed at least substantial agreement for evaluation of tumor extension (k = 0.674), presence of multifocality (k = 0.669), multicentricity (k = 0.857), nipple invasion (k = 1.000), skin invasion (k = 0.872), and suspicious level I axillary lymph nodes (k = 0.613). MDCT showed higher number of suspicious axillary lymph nodes than MRI, especially on levels II and III. Both methods had similar correlation with tumor size (MRI ICC: 0.807; p = 0.008 vs. MDCT ICC: 0.750; p = 0.020) and T staging (k = 0.699) on pathology. Conclusions: MDCT with dedicated breast protocol is feasible and showed substantial agreement with MRI features in stage II or III breast cancer patients. This method could potentially allow one-step locoregional and systemic staging, reducing costs and improving logistics for these patients.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multidetector Computed Tomography with Dedicated Protocol for Breast Cancer Locoregional Staging: Feasibility Study

et al. 2020

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“…8,9 Unlike conventional absorption-based x-ray imaging which is based on the absorption of the photons, PCCT utilizes the phase shift of Xrays passing through matter to generate tissue contrast. 10 Generally, PCCT has approximately 1000-fold greater sensitivity than the conventional x-ray imaging techniques, especially in imaging weakly absorbing objects (eg, soft tissues). 11 Early studies have proved that PCCT with synchrotron radiation X-ray sources is able to offer superior soft tissue contrast and spatial resolution over the conventional imaging modalities such as absorption-based CT and MRI.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Over the last two decades, X‐ray phase‐contrast computed tomography (PCCT) has demonstrated its great potential for soft tissues imaging . Unlike conventional absorption‐based x‐ray imaging which is based on the absorption of the photons, PCCT utilizes the phase shift of X‐rays passing through matter to generate tissue contrast . Generally, PCCT has approximately 1000‐fold greater sensitivity than the conventional x‐ray imaging techniques, especially in imaging weakly absorbing objects (eg, soft tissues) .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High‐resolution 3D imaging of microvascular architecture in human glioma tissues using X‐ray phase‐contrast computed tomography as a potential adjunct to histopathology

Zhang

Jian

Sun

et al. 2020

Int J Imaging Syst Tech

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Gliomas are rich in blood vessels, and the generation of tumor-associated vessels plays an important role in glioma growth and transfer. Histology can directly depict microvascular architecture in the tumor, but it just provides two-dimensional (2D) images obtained by destroying three-dimensional (3D) tissue specimens. There is a lack of high-resolution 3D imaging methods for observing the microvasculature throughout the entire specimens. X-ray phase-contrast computed tomography (PCCT) which is an emerging imaging method has demonstrated its outstanding potential in imaging soft tissues.Thus, this study aims to evaluate the potential of PCCT as an adjunct to histopathology in nondestructive and 3D visualization of the microvascular architecture in human glioma tissues. In this study, seven resected glioma tissues were scanned via PCCT and then processed histologically. The obtained PCCT data was analyzed and compared with corresponding histological results. Significant anatomical structures of the glioma such as microvessels, thrombi inside the microvessels, and areas of vascular proliferation could be clearly presented via PCCT, confirmed by the histological findings. Moreover, PCCT data also provided additional 3D information such as morphological alterations of the microvasculature, 3D distribution of the thrombi and stenosis severity of the vessels in glioma tissues, which cannot be fully analyzed in 2D histological slices. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that PCCT can offer excellent images at a near-histological level and additional valuable information in screening gliomas, without impeding further histological investigations.Thus, this technique could be potentially used as an adjunct to conventional histopathology in 3D nondestructive characterization of glioma vasculature. K E Y W O R D S glioma, microthrombi, microvascular architecture, X-ray phase-contrast computed tomography Wenxue Zhang and Jianbo Jian contributed equally to this study.

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“…Breast imaging with SR may also be compatible with K-edge subtraction imaging with iodine contrast medium (Thomlinson et al, 2018) for enhanced visibility of tumor masses. Phase-contrast breast CT with SR employs a parallel, coherent, monoenergetic beam of X-ray photons with the patient in a prone position on a rotating and vertically translating patient support (Longo et al, 2016(Longo et al, , 2019Brombal et al, 2019;Sarno et al, 2016aSarno et al, , 2017aDelogu et al, 2017;Taba et al, 2018). Optimal conditions for propagationbased phase-contrast imaging are obtained by using a large source-object distance and by positioning the (photon counting) imaging detector at a distance up to several metres from the vertical axis of rotation (Brombal et al, 2018), where the breast is pendant from an aperture in the patient support.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiochromic film dosimetry in synchrotron radiation breast computed tomography: a phantom study

Mettivier

Masi

Arfelli

et al. 2020

J Synchrotron Radiat

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This study relates to the INFN project SYRMA-3D for in vivo phase-contrast breast computed tomography using the SYRMEP synchrotron radiation beamline at the ELETTRA facility in Trieste, Italy. This peculiar imaging technique uses a novel dosimetric approach with respect to the standard clinical procedure. In this study, optimization of the acquisition procedure was evaluated in terms of dose delivered to the breast. An offline dose monitoring method was also investigated using radiochromic film dosimetry. Various irradiation geometries have been investigated for scanning the prone patient's pendant breast, simulated by a 14 cm-diameter polymethylmethacrylate cylindrical phantom containing pieces of calibrated radiochromic film type XR-QA2. Films were inserted mid-plane in the phantom, as well as wrapped around its external surface, and irradiated at 38 keV, with an air kerma value that would produce an estimated mean glandular dose of 5 mGy for a 14 cm-diameter 50% glandular breast. Axial scans were performed over a full rotation or over 180°. The results point out that a scheme adopting a stepped rotation irradiation represents the best geometry to optimize the dose distribution to the breast. The feasibility of using a piece of calibrated radiochromic film wrapped around a suitable holder around the breast to monitor the scan dose offline is demonstrated.

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X-Ray Phase-Contrast Technology in Breast Imaging: Principles, Options, and Clinical Application

Cited by 51 publications

References 85 publications

Multidetector Computed Tomography with Dedicated Protocol for Breast Cancer Locoregional Staging: Feasibility Study

Multidetector Computed Tomography with Dedicated Protocol for Breast Cancer Locoregional Staging: Feasibility Study

High‐resolution 3D imaging of microvascular architecture in human glioma tissues using X‐ray phase‐contrast computed tomography as a potential adjunct to histopathology

Radiochromic film dosimetry in synchrotron radiation breast computed tomography: a phantom study

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