X-ray Phase Contrast Imaging and Its Medical Application

Phase contrast imaging (PCI) technique has recently been developed to provide high contrast images by using phase shift of the X-ray. When X-ray propagates through an object, both the amplitude and the phase of the wave are modified. Conventional X-ray imaging is only sensitive to the variations in X-ray absorption. It is a difficult task for soft tissues and other weakly absorbing objects imaging because of the very small image contrast difference. Fortunately, the phase shift between biological soft tissues is almost one thousand times greater than the absorption term at photon energies greater than 10 keV. Phase contrast imaging can greatly improve the image quality of soft tissues. We present our research on information extraction , observation of microstructure and morphology of small animal organs and human tissues with PCI imaging, which has potential use for the early detection and diagnosis of some cancers.