Microscopic dual-energy computed tomography (microDECT) imaging of animal tissues: the colour of X-rays

Title (eng)
Microscopic dual-energy computed tomography (microDECT) imaging of animal tissues: the colour of X-rays
Author
Stephan Handschuh
Author
Ursula Reichart
Author
Stefan Kummer
Author
Simone Gabner
Author
Bernhard Ruthensteiner
Author
Andy Sombke
Author
Thomas Schwaha
Author
Christian J. Beisser
Author
Patrick Lemell
Author
David Haberthür
Author
Ruslan Hlushchuk
Author
Rudolf Glueckert
Author
Brian D. Metscher
Author
Martin Glösmann
Abstract (eng)
In this view article, we present potential applications of laboratory-based spectral dual-energy X-ray microtomography imaging for ex vivo animal tissue samples. Technical details on this topic have been reported in previous work, so we focus explicitly on applications here, discussing both dual-energy imaging for the separation of mineralised tissue from one X-ray dense contrast agent, as well as the imaging of samples stained with two X-ray dense contrast agents. Examples are given for a variety of research areas, including preclinical biomedical phenotyping (vasculature, skeletal development), comparative vertebrate morphology, and invertebrate anatomy. Based on the data presented, we conclude that the use of spectral X-ray information can provide new insights into CT datasets. Although using the dual-energy approach initially requires more effort and cost in data acquisition, this additional effort is often worthwhile, as dual-energy datasets allow for more efficient data visualisation, segmentation, and analysis. Until now, software functions for acquisition and processing of dual-energy data have not been implemented in many of the software toolboxes provided by X-ray microtomography vendors with their scanners. We propose that a user-friendly implementation of software tools for acquiring and processing spectral CT data would be a big step towards a wider use of this promising and powerful imaging approach.
Keywords (eng)
X-ray MicrotomographyMicroCTµCTDECTBasis Material DecompositionDiceCT
Type (eng)
journal article
Language
[eng]
Persistent identifier
https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:5206
DOI
10.1515/mim-2025-0006
Is in series
Title (eng)
Methods in Microscopy
Volume
2
Issue
3
ISSN
2942-3899
Issued
2025
Number of pages
23
Publication
Walter de Gruyter
Version type (eng)
version of record (published version)
Date issued
2025
Access rights (eng)
open access
License
CC BY 4.0 International
Rights statement (eng)
© 2025 the author(s)