Dataset Information

Non-invasive microstructure and morphology investigation of the mouse lung: qualitative description and quantitative measurement.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Early detection of lung cancer is known to improve the chances of successful treatment. However, lungs are soft tissues with complex three-dimensional configuration. Conventional X-ray imaging is based purely on absorption resulting in very low contrast when imaging soft tissues without contrast agents. It is difficult to obtain adequate information of lung lesions from conventional X-ray imaging.

Methods

In this study, a recently emerged imaging technique, in-line X-ray phase contrast imaging (IL-XPCI) was used. This powerful technique enabled high-resolution investigations of soft tissues without contrast agents. We applied IL-XPCI to observe the lungs in an intact mouse for the purpose of defining quantitatively the micro-structures in lung.

Findings

The three-dimensional model of the lung was successfully established, which provided an excellent view of lung airways. We highlighted the use of IL-XPCI in the visualization and assessment of alveoli which had rarely been studied in three dimensions (3D). The precise view of individual alveolus was achieved. The morphological parameters, such as diameter and alveolar surface area were measured. These parameters were of great importance in the diagnosis of diseases related to alveolus and alveolar scar.

Conclusion

Our results indicated that IL-XPCI had the ability to represent complex anatomical structures in lung. This offered a new perspective on the diagnosis of respiratory disease and may guide future work in the study of respiratory mechanism on the alveoli level.

SUBMITTER: Zhang L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3045447 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Non-invasive microstructure and morphology investigation of the mouse lung: qualitative description and quantitative measurement.

Zhang Lu L Li Dongyue D Luo Shuqian S

PloS one 20110225 2

<h4>Background</h4>Early detection of lung cancer is known to improve the chances of successful treatment. However, lungs are soft tissues with complex three-dimensional configuration. Conventional X-ray imaging is based purely on absorption resulting in very low contrast when imaging soft tissues without contrast agents. It is difficult to obtain adequate information of lung lesions from conventional X-ray imaging.<h4>Methods</h4>In this study, a recently emerged imaging technique, in-line X-ra ...[more]

PMID: 21364899

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Project description:BACKGROUND:An inflammatory reaction in the airways and lung parenchyma, comprised mainly of neutrophils and alveolar macrophages, is present in some patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Thoracic fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) has been proposed as a promising imaging biomarker to assess this inflammation. We sought to introduce a fully quantitative analysis method and compare this with previously published studies based on the Patlak approach using a dataset comprising 18F-FDG PET scans from COPD subjects with elevated circulating inflammatory markers (fibrinogen) and matched healthy volunteers (HV). Dynamic 18F-FDG PET scans were obtained for high-fibrinogen (>2.8 g/l) COPD subjects (N?=?10) and never smoking HV (N?=?10). Lungs were segmented using co-registered computed tomography images and subregions (upper, middle and lower) were semi-automatically defined. A quantitative analysis approach was developed, which corrects for the presence of air and blood in the lung (qABL method), enabling direct estimation of the metabolic rate of FDG in lung tissue. A normalised Patlak analysis approach was also performed to enable comparison with previously published results. Effect sizes (Hedge's g) were used to compare HV and COPD groups. RESULTS:The qABL method detected no difference (Hedge's g?=?0.15 [-0.76 1.04]) in the tissue metabolic rate of FDG in the whole lung between HV (??=?6.0?±?1.9?×?10-3 ml cm-3 min-1) and COPD (??=?5.7?±?1.7?×?10-3 ml cm-3 min-1). However, analysis with the normalised Patlak approach detected a significant difference (Hedge's g?=?-1.59 [-2.57 -0.48]) in whole lung between HV (??=?2.9?±?0.5?×?10-3 ml cm-3 min-1) and COPD (??=?3.9?±?0.7?×?10-3 ml cm-3 min-1). The normalised Patlak endpoint was shown to be a composite measure influenced by air volume, blood volume and actual uptake of 18F-FDG in lung tissue. CONCLUSIONS:We have introduced a quantitative analysis method that provides a direct estimate of the metabolic rate of FDG in lung tissue. This work provides further understanding of the underlying origin of the 18F-FDG signal in the lung in disease groups and helps interpreting changes following standard or novel therapies.

Dataset Information

Non-invasive microstructure and morphology investigation of the mouse lung: qualitative description and quantitative measurement.

Background

Methods

Findings

Conclusion

Publications

Non-invasive microstructure and morphology investigation of the mouse lung: qualitative description and quantitative measurement.

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