Imaging evaluation of the cartilage in rheumatoid arthritis patients with an x-ray phase imaging apparatus based on Talbot-Lau interferometry
Hiroyuki Yoshioka, Yuho Kadono, Yoon Taek Kim, Hiromi Oda, Takashi Maruyama, Yuji Akiyama, Toshihide Mimura, Junji Tanaka, Mamoru Niitsu, Yoshihide Hoshino, Junko Kiyohara, Satoshi Nishino, Chiho Makifuchi, Atsushi Takahashi, Yuko Shinden, Norihiro Matsusaka, Kazuhiro Kido, Atsushi Momose
Abstract
X-ray Talbot-Lau interferometry is one of the x-ray phase imaging methods that has high sensitivity in depicting soft tissues. Unlike earlier x-ray phase imaging methods that required particular types of x-ray sources, such as a synchrotron or a micro-focus x-ray tube, x-ray Talbot-Lau interferometry enables to perform clinical x-ray phase imaging using a conventional x-ray source with a relatively compact configuration. We developed an apparatus to depict cartilage in the metacarpophalangeal joints of the hands. In addition, we examined the apparatus performance by applying it to healthy volunteers and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Cartilage deformation, which is thought to be a precursor of destruction of the joints, was successfully depicted by the apparatus, suggesting a potential early diagnosis of RA.