High-energy X-ray phase-contrast CT of an adult human chest phantom
Propagation-based phase-contrast X-ray imaging is a promising technique for in vivo medical imaging, offering lower radiation doses than traditional attenuation-based imaging. Previous studies have focused on X-ray energies below 50keV for small-animal imaging and mammography. Here, we investigate the feasibility of high-energy propagation-based computed tomography for human adult-scale lung imaging at the Australian Synchrotron's Imaging and Medical Beamline. This facility is uniquely positioned for human lung imaging, offering a large field of view, high X-ray energies, and supporting clinical infrastructure. We imaged an anthropomorphic chest phantom (LungMan) between 50keV and 80keV across the range of possible sample-to-detector distances, with a photon-counting and an integrating detector. Strong phase-contrast fringes were observed with the photon-counting detector, even at high X-ray energies and a large pixel size relative to previous work, whereas the integrating detector with lower spatial resolution showed no clear phase effects. Measured X-ray phase-shifting properties of LungMan aligned well with reference soft tissue values, validating the phantom for phase-contrast studies. Imaging quality assessments suggest an optimal configuration at approximately 70keV and the longest available propagation distance of 7.5m, indicating potential benefit in positioning the patient in an upstream hutch. This study represents the first step towards clinical adult lung imaging at the Australian Synchrotron.
Authors
- Yakov I. Nesterets (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0827-7261)
- Konstantin M. Pavlov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1756-4406)
- Kaye S. Morgan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6997-7977)
- Martin Donnelley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5320-7756)
- Ying Ying How (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8568-4736)
- Henriette Bast (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7390-1809)
- Timur E. Gureyev (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1103-0649)
- Marcus J. Kitchen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0029-6660)
- Samantha J. Alloo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9502-6128)
- Daniel M. Häusermann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8806-2227)
- Michelle K. Croughan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9345-2345)
- Anton Maksimenko (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7543-6325)
- Jannis N. Ahlers (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0630-1819)
- Lucy Costello (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2666-7077)
- C.J. Hall (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8691-7677)
- James A. Pollock (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2594-9653)
- S. Harker
- Lorenzo D Amico
Institutions
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (AU)
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (AU)
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- University of Canterbury (NZ)
- Women's and Children's Hospital (AU)
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A. (IT)
- Australian Synchrotron (AU)
- Health Sciences and Nutrition (AU)
- Isotopen Technologien München (Germany) (DE)
- Monash University (AU)
- The University of Adelaide (AU)
- Technical University of Munich (DE)
- University of New England (AU)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Published
- 2025-08-11
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14956-3
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Advanced X-ray Imaging Techniques
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.65
Funders
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
- Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
- Australian Synchrotron
- National Health and Medical Research Council