Dark-field imaging in coronary atherosclerosis

TY - JOUR

T1 - Dark-field imaging in coronary atherosclerosis

AU - Hetterich, Holger

AU - Webber, Nicole

AU - Willner, Marian

AU - Herzen, Julia

AU - Birnbacher, Lorenz

AU - Auweter, Sigrid

AU - Schüller, Ulrich

AU - Bamberg, Fabian

AU - Notohamiprodjo, Susan

AU - Bartsch, Harald

AU - Wolf, Johannes

AU - Marschner, Mathias

AU - Pfeiffer, Franz

AU - Reiser, Maximilian

AU - Saam, Tobias

N1 - Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PY - 2017/9

Y1 - 2017/9

N2 - OBJECTIVES: Dark-field imaging based on small angle X-ray scattering has been shown to be highly sensitive for microcalcifications, e.g. in breast tissue. We hypothesized (i) that high signal areas in dark-field imaging of atherosclerotic plaque are associated with microcalcifications and (ii) that dark-field imaging is more sensitive for microcalcifications than attenuation-based imaging.METHODS: Fifteen coronary artery specimens were examined at an experimental set-up consisting of X-ray tube (40kV), grating-interferometer and detector. Tomographic dark-field-, attenuation-, and phase-contrast data were simultaneously acquired. Histopathology served as standard of reference. To explore the potential of dark field imaging in a full-body CT system, simulations were carried out with spherical calcifications of different sizes to simulate small and intermediate microcalcifications.RESULTS: Microcalcifications were present in 10/10 (100%) cross-sections with high dark-field signal and without evidence of calcifications in attenuation- or phase contrast. In positive controls with high signal areas in all three modalities, 10/10 (100%) cross-sections showed macrocalcifications. In negative controls without high signal areas, no calcifications were detected. Simulations showed that the microcalcifications generate substantially higher dark-field than attenuation signal.CONCLUSIONS: Dark-field imaging is highly sensitive for microcalcifications in coronary atherosclerotic plaque and might provide complementary information in the assessment of plaque instability.

AB - OBJECTIVES: Dark-field imaging based on small angle X-ray scattering has been shown to be highly sensitive for microcalcifications, e.g. in breast tissue. We hypothesized (i) that high signal areas in dark-field imaging of atherosclerotic plaque are associated with microcalcifications and (ii) that dark-field imaging is more sensitive for microcalcifications than attenuation-based imaging.METHODS: Fifteen coronary artery specimens were examined at an experimental set-up consisting of X-ray tube (40kV), grating-interferometer and detector. Tomographic dark-field-, attenuation-, and phase-contrast data were simultaneously acquired. Histopathology served as standard of reference. To explore the potential of dark field imaging in a full-body CT system, simulations were carried out with spherical calcifications of different sizes to simulate small and intermediate microcalcifications.RESULTS: Microcalcifications were present in 10/10 (100%) cross-sections with high dark-field signal and without evidence of calcifications in attenuation- or phase contrast. In positive controls with high signal areas in all three modalities, 10/10 (100%) cross-sections showed macrocalcifications. In negative controls without high signal areas, no calcifications were detected. Simulations showed that the microcalcifications generate substantially higher dark-field than attenuation signal.CONCLUSIONS: Dark-field imaging is highly sensitive for microcalcifications in coronary atherosclerotic plaque and might provide complementary information in the assessment of plaque instability.

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1016/j.ejrad.2017.07.018

DO - 10.1016/j.ejrad.2017.07.018

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 28941758

VL - 94

SP - 38

EP - 45

JO - EUR J RADIOL

JF - EUR J RADIOL

SN - 0720-048X

ER -