In-vivo X-ray dark-field computed tomography for the detection of radiation-induced lung damage in mice
Burkhardt R, Gora T, Fingerle AA, Sauter AP, Meurer F, Gassert FT, Dobiasch S, Schilling D, Feuchtinger A, Walch AK, Multhoff G, Herzen J, Noel PB, Rummeny EJ, Combs SE, Schmid TE, Pfeiffer F, Wilkens JJ (2021)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2021
Journal
Book Volume: 20
Pages Range: 11-16
DOI: 10.1016/j.phro.2021.09.003
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Radiotherapy of thoracic tumours can lead to side effects in the lung, which may benefit from early diagnosis. We investigated the potential of X-ray dark-field computed tomography by a proof-of-principle murine study in a clinically relevant radiotherapeutic setting aiming at the detection of radiation-induced lung damage. Material and Methods: Six mice were irradiated with 20 Gy to the entire right lung. Together with five unirradiated control mice, they were imaged using computed tomography with absorption and dark-field contrast before and 16 weeks post irradiation. Mean pixel values for the right and left lung were calculated for both contrasts, and the right-to-left-ratio R of these means was compared. Radiologists also assessed the tomograms acquired 16 weeks post irradiation. Sensitivity, specificity, inter- and intra-reader accuracy were evaluated. Results: In absorption contrast the group-average of R showed no increase in the control group and increased by 7% (p = 0.005) in the irradiated group. In dark-field contrast, it increased by 2% in the control group and by 14% (p = 0.005) in the irradiated group. Specificity was 100% for both contrasts but sensitivity was almost four times higher using dark-field tomography. Two cases were missed by absorption tomography but were detected by dark-field tomography. Conclusions: The applicability of X-ray dark-field computed tomography for the detection of radiation-induced lung damage was demonstrated in a pre-clinical mouse model. The presented results illustrate the differences between dark-field and absorption contrast and show that dark-field tomography could be advantageous in future clinical settings.
Involved external institutions
Technische Universität München (TUM)
Germany (DE)
Klinikum rechts der Isar
Germany (DE)
Helmholtz Zentrum München - Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (HMGU) / Helmholtz Munich
Germany (DE)
Germany (DE)
Klinikum rechts der Isar
Germany (DE)
Helmholtz Zentrum München - Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (HMGU) / Helmholtz Munich
Germany (DE)
How to cite
APA:
Burkhardt, R., Gora, T., Fingerle, A.A., Sauter, A.P., Meurer, F., Gassert, F.T.,... Wilkens, J.J. (2021). In-vivo X-ray dark-field computed tomography for the detection of radiation-induced lung damage in mice. Physics and Imaging in Radiation Oncology, 20, 11-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phro.2021.09.003
MLA:
Burkhardt, Rico, et al. "In-vivo X-ray dark-field computed tomography for the detection of radiation-induced lung damage in mice." Physics and Imaging in Radiation Oncology 20 (2021): 11-16.
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