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Background <p>Ultra-high-resolution propagation-based synchrotron phase-contrast CT is an emerging technique for lung imaging. However, its feasibility and diagnostic potential at radiation doses comparable to those used in standard clinical procedures has yet to be established. This study aims to evaluate the performance of phase-contrast CT in comparison with state-of-the-art high-resolution multislice CT and bronchoscopy, and to validate its diagnostic accuracy histologically using porcine and, for the first time, human lung specimens.</p> Methods <p>Phase-contrast CT experiments were conducted at the Italian synchrotron using lung specimens mounted in a custom-made anthropomorphic chest phantom. Imaging utilized two photon-counting detectors under various acquisition settings, followed by artificial intelligence-based denoising. Sequential imaging by phase-contrast CT, multislice CT, and bronchoscopy was performed prior to formaldehyde vapor fixation and histological dissection. Image quality was assessed quantitatively (contrast-to-noise ratio, edge sharpness, power spectra) and qualitatively via radiological scoring across 14 criteria.</p> Results <p>Phase-contrast CT achieved effective pixel sizes of 0.067&#xa0;mm (Hydra detector) and 0.038&#xa0;mm (LAMBDA detector), at radiation doses near full-dose multislice CT (<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">≈</Emphasis> 12 mGy). Denoising improved contrast without major loss of edge sharpness. Radiological scoring showed phase-contrast CT outperformed multislice CT in visualizing peripheral airways and fine parenchymal structures. Histological validation confirmed imaging accuracy. Limitations from source spot size (<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">≈</Emphasis> 200&#xa0;μm) were noted but did not prevent significant diagnostic improvements.</p> Conclusions <p>Phase-contrast CT, combined with artificial intelligence-based denoising, offers detailed, non-invasive imaging of lung microstructures at clinically relevant radiation doses. It complements multislice CT, holds potential for clinical adoption in advanced pulmonary diagnostics, and may reduce reliance on invasive biopsies.</p>

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Ultra-high-resolution synchrotron phase-contrast CT enables microstructural pulmonary imaging at clinical dose levels

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月11日

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  • Claudia Victoria Benke,
  • Johanna Reiser,
  • Lorenzo D’Amico,
  • Md Motiur Rahman Sagar,
  • Nicola Sodini,
  • Diego Dreossi,
  • Adriano Contillo,
  • Elena Longo,
  • Marko Prašek,
  • Stephan Stern,
  • Elisa Baratella,
  • Maria Assunta Cova,
  • Marco Confalonieri,
  • Paola Confalonieri,
  • Fabrizio Zanconati,
  • Stefano D’Errico,
  • Davide Radaelli,
  • Tommaso Bruscagin,
  • Deborah Bonazza,
  • Sam Bayat,
  • Philipp Nolte,
  • Lavinia Neubert,
  • Christina Petzold-Mügge,
  • Christopher Werlein,
  • Lars Knudsen,
  • Hoen-oh Shin,
  • Jan-Christopher Kamp,
  • Ali Seif Amir Hosseini,
  • Willi Linus Wagner,
  • Mark Oliver Wielpütz,
  • Jürgen Biederer,
  • Hans-Ulrich Kauczor,
  • Frauke Alves,
  • Giuliana Tromba,
  • Christian Dullin

摘要

Background

Ultra-high-resolution propagation-based synchrotron phase-contrast CT is an emerging technique for lung imaging. However, its feasibility and diagnostic potential at radiation doses comparable to those used in standard clinical procedures has yet to be established. This study aims to evaluate the performance of phase-contrast CT in comparison with state-of-the-art high-resolution multislice CT and bronchoscopy, and to validate its diagnostic accuracy histologically using porcine and, for the first time, human lung specimens.

Methods

Phase-contrast CT experiments were conducted at the Italian synchrotron using lung specimens mounted in a custom-made anthropomorphic chest phantom. Imaging utilized two photon-counting detectors under various acquisition settings, followed by artificial intelligence-based denoising. Sequential imaging by phase-contrast CT, multislice CT, and bronchoscopy was performed prior to formaldehyde vapor fixation and histological dissection. Image quality was assessed quantitatively (contrast-to-noise ratio, edge sharpness, power spectra) and qualitatively via radiological scoring across 14 criteria.

Results

Phase-contrast CT achieved effective pixel sizes of 0.067 mm (Hydra detector) and 0.038 mm (LAMBDA detector), at radiation doses near full-dose multislice CT (≈ 12 mGy). Denoising improved contrast without major loss of edge sharpness. Radiological scoring showed phase-contrast CT outperformed multislice CT in visualizing peripheral airways and fine parenchymal structures. Histological validation confirmed imaging accuracy. Limitations from source spot size (≈ 200 μm) were noted but did not prevent significant diagnostic improvements.

Conclusions

Phase-contrast CT, combined with artificial intelligence-based denoising, offers detailed, non-invasive imaging of lung microstructures at clinically relevant radiation doses. It complements multislice CT, holds potential for clinical adoption in advanced pulmonary diagnostics, and may reduce reliance on invasive biopsies.