X-ray Dark-Field Chest Imaging: Qualitative and Quantitative Results in Healthy Humans

作者：Florian T. Gassert, Theresa Urban, Manuela Frank, Konstantin Willer, Wolfgang Noichl, Philipp Buchberger, Rafael Schick, Thomas Koehler, Jens von Berg, Alexander A. Fingerle, Andreas Sauter, Marcus R. Makowski, Daniela Pfeiffer, Franz Pfeiffer · 发表于：Radiology · 年份：2021 · DOI：10.1148/radiol.2021210963 · 被引用次数：89 · 研究领域：Advanced X-ray Imaging Techniques、Advanced X-ray and CT Imaging、Medical Imaging Techniques and Applications

Background X-ray dark-field radiography takes advantage of the wave properties of x-rays, with a relatively high signal in the lungs due to the many air-tissue interfaces in the alveoli. Purpose To describe the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of x-ray dark-field images in healthy human subjects. Materials and Methods Between October 2018 and January 2020, patients of legal age who underwent chest CT as part of their diagnostic work-up were screened for study participation. Inclusion criteria were a normal chest CT scan, the ability to consent, and the ability to stand upright without help. Exclusion criteria were pregnancy, serious medical conditions, and changes in the lung tissue, such as those due to cancer, pleural effusion, atelectasis, emphysema, infiltrates, ground-glass opacities, or pneumothorax. Images of study participants were obtained by using a clinical x-ray dark-field prototype, recently constructed and commissioned at the authors’ institution, to simultaneously acquire both attenuation-based and dark-field thorax radiographs. Each subject's total dark-field signal was correlated with his or her lung volume, and the dark-field coefficient was correlated with age, sex, weight, and height. Results Overall, 40 subjects were included in this study (average age, 62 years ± 13 [standard deviation]; 26 men, 14 women). Normal human lungs have high signal, while the surrounding osseous structures and soft tissue have very low and no signal, respectively. T...