Medical tomography

In the energy region where most commercial X-ray CT systems are being engaged for medical tomography ( 70 keV), two types of interactions are dominant photoelectric absorption and coherent and incoherent scattering. 

The classical computer tomography (CT), including the medical one, has already been demonstrated its efficiency in many practical applications. At the same time, the request of the all-round survey of the object, which is usually unattainable, makes it important to find alternative approaches with less rigid restrictions to the number of projections and accessible views for observation. In the last time, it was understood that one effective way to withstand the extreme lack of data is to introduce a priori knowledge based upon classical inverse theory (including Maximum Entropy Method (MEM)) of the solution of ill-posed problems [1-6]. As shown in [6] for objects with binary structure, the necessary number of projections to get the quality of image restoration compared to that of CT using multistep reconstruction (MSR) method did not exceed seven and eould be reduced even further. 

Using MRI as a substitute for X ray tomography IS only the first of what are many medical applica tions More he on the horizon If for example the rate of data acquisition could be increased then it would become possible to make the leap from the equivalent of still photographs to motion pictures One could watch the inside of the body as it works— see the heart beat see the lungs expand and con tract—rather than merely examine the structure of an organ... 

Positron emission tomography (PET) makes use of a short-lived positron emitter such as fluorine-18 to image human tissue with a degree of detail not possible with x-rays. It has been used extensively to study brain function (see illustration) and in medical diagnosis. For example, when the hormone estrogen is labelled with fluorine-18 and injected into a cancer patient, the fluorine-bearing compound is preferentially absorbed by the tumor. The positrons given off by the fluorine atoms are quickly annihilated when they meet... 

One of the great challenges facing medical science is how to diagnose and treat afflictions of the brain such as Alzheimer s disease, hi part this is because we cannot see directly inside an active human brain. Recently, however, medical researchers have developed a powerful diagnostic tool called positron emission tomography (PET). 

Positron emission tomography (PET) A medical imaging technique that helps physicians locate tumors and other growths in the body. A radioactive tracer isotope which emits a positron is incorporated into a metaholically active molecule. A scanner locates the tissues where the radioactive substance winds up. 

X-ray tomography as risks to the health of the patient are virtually eliminated and additional information on their medical condition can be obtained. 

S. R. Arridge. Optical tomography in medical imaging. Inverse Problems, 15 R41-R93, 1999. 

---