Cancer Imaging Evolves from Grey Scale to Full Color

Computed Tomography (CT), Mammography, X-Ray, and 3D imaging are used today to detect cancer and other diseases in their early stages to enable effective treatment. However distinguishing healthy tissue from abnormal tissue is difficult in black and white images.

Spectral CT uses up to eight X-ray energy channels at the same time, with different colors assigned to specific molecular signatures. This enables clinicians to more readily identify tumors and other abnormalities.

The MBI pre-clinical spectral CT system was installed in the Notre Dame Integrated Imaging Facility (NDIIF; Notre Dame, IN, USA) at the University of Notre Dame, and was developed in collaboration with MARS Bioimaging (Christchurch, New Zealand).

The scanner uses the Medipix3 detector chip developed at CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research), in conjunction with nanoparticle contrast agents developed by the research team. The system can detect specific molecular signatures of diseases such as cancer, with different colors for each contrast agent and tissue type. The researchers plan to use the technology to develop better methods to detect cancer in women with dense breast tissue but also for ovarian, colorectal, lung cancers, and metastatic disease.

David P. Hofstra, administrative director, Diagnostic Imaging and Therapy, Saint Joseph Health System (Mishawaka, IN, USA), said, “Spectral computed tomography (CT) scanning is really the next great enhancement of clinical CT quality. It takes us beyond comparing the number of ‘slices’ to a discussion about fundamentally better and more clinically valuable imaging. Already, spectral CT scanning is playing important roles in clinical practice by reducing metal artifacts and also by reducing the amount of radiation that is administered to patients. In the very near future, spectral CT promises to allow clinicians better means to characterize the material makeup of visualized items (like kidney stones, plaques, uric acid crystals, etc.). Also in the near future, iodinated contrast that is administered may be able to be reduced. Someday, spectral CT technology may allow altogether different types of contrast materials other than iodine, which we use currently. Different or targeted contrast agents may show important clinical findings that we can only begin to imagine currently.”

Related Links:
Notre Dame NDIIF
MARS Bioimaging