<title>X-ray refraction-contrast imaging using synchrotron radiation at SPring-8</title>

Abstract

An edge-enhanced imaging technique using the X-ray refraction effect for high contrast outline imaging have been investigated using a third generation of synchrotron radiation source. This technique can be applied to imaging of soft tissues that can not be imaged by conventional absorption- contrast imaging. We have attempted to apply this method to accurate diagnosis of the lung cancer with reduced absorbed dose. In preliminary experiments, we took images of a glass capillary tube and a nude mouse with a long object-to-detector distance using monochromatized X-ray and a high-spatial- resolution CCD-based image detector. Compared to conventional absorption-contrast images, the image contrast is enhanced at an interface between two materials by the X-ray refraction. In a chest image of the mouse, outline images of the alveoli, the bronchi and the trachea were visualized with higher contrast than that of the ribs. It may be effective for early detection of small lung cancer lesions.