Detection of Lung Cancer with Phase-Contrast X-ray Imaging Using Synchrotron Radiation

In the present study, the feasibility of applying synchrotron radiation for the detection of lung cancers was investigated. Lung cancer tissues grown in mice over different periods were observed with phase-contrast synchrotron X-ray chest imaging. Irregular and tortuous vessels appearing in early cancer angiogenesis were found in the periphery region of the implanted cancer. Structure difference was clearly shown between normal tissue and early stage solid cancer in micrometers. Results from this study indicate that synchrotron X-ray may open broad perspectives for imaging cancer development and progression noninvasively.