Tomographic x-ray-guided three-dimensional diffuse optical tomography of osteoarthritis in the finger joints

J Biomed Opt. 2008 Jul-Aug;13(4):044006. doi: 10.1117/1.2965547.

Abstract

We describe a multimodality imaging approach that combines x-ray tomosynthesis with near-infrared diffuse optical tomography (DOT) for high-resolution imaging of osteoarthritis in the finger joints. In this approach, we take advantage of high resolution x-ray imaging particularly of the bones and incorporate the fine structural maps obtained from x ray as a priori information into DOT reconstructions. To realize this multi-modality approach, we constructed a hybrid imaging platform that integrated a C-arm-based x-ray tomosynthetic system with a multichannel optic-fiber-based DOT system. We also implemented improved hybrid regularization-based reconstruction algorithms that have shown to be especially effective for high-resolution modality-guided DOT. Initial evaluation of our x-ray-guided DOT reconstruction approach in the finger joints shows that spatial resolution of DOT can be enhanced dramatically when the three-dimensional geometry of bones is known a priori. In particular, the improved quantitative capability of imaging absorption and scattering coefficients of the joint tissues allows for more accurate diagnosis of osteoarthritis over x-ray radiography or DOT alone.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arthrography / methods
  • Female
  • Finger Joint / diagnostic imaging*
  • Finger Joint / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Osteoarthritis / diagnosis*
  • Subtraction Technique*
  • Tomography, Optical / methods*