Peter B. Noel PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Julia Herzen PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Alexander André Fingerle MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Dieter Hahn, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Marian Willner, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Marcus R. Settles PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Enken Drecoll MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Irene Zanette, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Weitkamp Timm, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ernst J. Rummeny MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Franz Pfeiffer PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the diagnostic value of phase-contrast computed tomography (PCCT) for detection of liver tumors. Cancer, especially in the liver, is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Thus, early detection and precise treatment monitoring is crucial for full recovery of patients. Current computed tomography (CT) systems do not provide enough soft-tissue contrast for detection of soft-tissue tumors. These drawbacks result from the low sensitivity of CT or in other words from the minor differences in linear attenuation coefficients between tissues. On the contrary, PCCT has the potential to enhance the soft-tissue information even without injecting a contrast agent.

Formalin-fixed human liver samples were imaged in a benchmarking experiment with 23keV at the synchrotron radiation source ESRF in Grenoble, France. To achieve optimal diagnostic value we chose synchrotron radiation. On this note, it has been shown that similar results are achievable with conventional x-ray tubes. As a reference the same sample was imaged with the current standard modality, a lab-based microCT system and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (1.5T, T1-weighted 3DTSE, imaging time:15 h) system. Finally, the reconstructed slices were correlated with the gross pathology results to determine the diagnostic value of PCCT. 

For the PCCT reconstructions we observed a significantly enhanced soft-tissue contrast when comparing to standard absorption CT. In our visual grading study, we found that the pathological and anatomical information in the PCCT reconstructions show significant improvement when compared to those performed on MR. A high correlation between PCCT and the gross pathology results is demonstrated in our results.

Phase-contrast computed tomography impressively improves the soft-tissue contrast when compared to the results provided by current state-of-the-art cross-sectional imaging modalities (CT and MRI). To the best of our knowledge this is one of the first experiments in which the high potential of grating-based PCCT for clinical tumor imaging is presented. We strongly believe that this new modality will provide enhanced clinical diagnostics for early tumor detection and treatment response evaluation.

The highly sensitive grating-based phase-contrast computed tomography would improve diagnostics and treatment of malignant and benign tumors when made available in the clinic.

Noel, P, Herzen, J, Fingerle, A, Hahn, D, Willner, M, Settles, M, Drecoll, E, Zanette, I, Timm, W, Rummeny, E, Pfeiffer, F, Clinical Evaluation of Phase-contrast Computed Tomography (PCCT) for Detection of Liver Tumors.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11008881.html