Abstract
BackgroundEarly detection of lung cancer is known to improve the chances of successful treatment. However, lungs are soft tissues with complex three-dimensional configuration. Conventional X-ray imaging is based purely on absorption resulting in very low contrast when imaging soft tissues without contrast agents. It is difficult to obtain adequate information of lung lesions from conventional X-ray imaging.MethodsIn this study, a recently emerged imaging technique, in-line X-ray phase contrast imaging (IL-XPCI) was used. This powerful technique enabled high-resolution investigations of soft tissues without contrast agents. We applied IL-XPCI to observe the lungs in an intact mouse for the purpose of defining quantitatively the micro-structures in lung.FindingsThe three-dimensional model of the lung was successfully established, which provided an excellent view of lung airways. We highlighted the use of IL-XPCI in the visualization and assessment of alveoli which had rarely been studied in three dimensions (3D). The precise view of individual alveolus was achieved. The morphological parameters, such as diameter and alveolar surface area were measured. These parameters were of great importance in the diagnosis of diseases related to alveolus and alveolar scar.ConclusionOur results indicated that IL-XPCI had the ability to represent complex anatomical structures in lung. This offered a new perspective on the diagnosis of respiratory disease and may guide future work in the study of respiratory mechanism on the alveoli level.
Highlights
Many lung diseases alter the morphology of the lung tissue [1,2,3,4,5,6]
Our results indicated that in-line X-ray phase contrast imaging (IL-XPCI) had the ability to represent complex anatomical structures in lung
This offered a new perspective on the diagnosis of respiratory disease and may guide future work in the study of respiratory mechanism on the alveoli level
Summary
Due to the limitation of resolution and contrast, at the early stage of the disease, minor pathological changes can not be discerned by conventional absorption-based imaging techniques. Lung cancer is one of the most common diseases with low survival rates worldwide; early detection of the lung cancer is known to improve the chances of successful treatment. It is of great importance to image micro-structures in lung to enable early detection. Histological biopsy is the most commonly used method for micro structures observation This is invasive and usually nonrepeatable [8,9,10]. Detection of lung cancer is known to improve the chances of successful treatment. Conventional X-ray imaging is based purely on absorption resulting in very low contrast when imaging soft tissues without contrast agents. It is difficult to obtain adequate information of lung lesions from conventional X-ray imaging
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