In-vivo X-ray Dark-Field Chest Radiography of a Pig

Lukas B. Gromann, Fabio De Marco, Konstantin Willer, Peter B. Noël, Kai Scherer, Bernhard Renger, Bernhard Gleich, Klaus Achterhold, Alexander A. Fingerle, Daniela Muenzel, Sigrid Auweter, Katharina Hellbach, Maximilian Reiser, Andrea Baehr, Michaela Dmochewitz, Tobias J. Schroeter, Frieder J. Koch, Pascal Meyer, Danays Kunka, Juergen MohrAndre Yaroshenko, Hanns Ingo Maack, Thomas Pralow, Hendrik Van Der Heijden, Roland Proksa, Thomas Koehler, Nataly Wieberneit, Karsten Rindt, Ernst J. Rummeny, Franz Pfeiffer, Julia Herzen

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83 Scopus citations

Abstract

X-ray chest radiography is an inexpensive and broadly available tool for initial assessment of the lung in clinical routine, but typically lacks diagnostic sensitivity for detection of pulmonary diseases in their early stages. Recent X-ray dark-field (XDF) imaging studies on mice have shown significant improvements in imaging-based lung diagnostics. Especially in the case of early diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), XDF imaging clearly outperforms conventional radiography. However, a translation of this technique towards the investigation of larger mammals and finally humans has not yet been achieved. In this letter, we present the first in-vivo XDF full-field chest radiographs (32 × 35 cm2) of a living pig, acquired with clinically compatible parameters (40 s scan time, approx. 80 μSv dose). For imaging, we developed a novel high-energy XDF system that overcomes the limitations of currently established setups. Our XDF radiographs yield sufficiently high image quality to enable radiographic evaluation of the lungs. We consider this a milestone in the bench-to-bedside translation of XDF imaging and expect XDF imaging to become an invaluable tool in clinical practice, both as a general chest X-ray modality and as a dedicated tool for high-risk patients affected by smoking, industrial work and indoor cooking.

Original languageEnglish
Article number4807
JournalScientific Reports
Volume7
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2017

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