ABSTRACT
Nuclear scattering radiographs of a portion of a spine and a sphenoid bone have been obtained using a 1 GeV proton beam. The ability of the method to yield three-dimensional representations is illustrated by three series of adjacent pictures corresponding to the three orthogonal planes (elementary volume: 5.2 mm3 and 0.9 mm3). The sensitivity of the method is discussed. Nuclear scattering radiographs are compared with ones obtained by conventional X-ray tomography and computed tomography. Nuclear scattering radiography also may be used to analyze the partition of hydrogen within the tissures. Hydrogen radiographs obtained in this way are shown.
Subject(s)
Sphenoid Bone/diagnostic imaging , Spine/diagnostic imaging , Elementary Particles , Hydrogen , Methods , Radiography , Scattering, RadiationABSTRACT
The quasi-elastic scattering of 1 GeV protons permits the three-dimensional reconstruction of the density distribution in extended bodies. Fast multiwire proportional chambers are used to localize the position of every incoming and outgoing charged particle and to determine the coordinates at the interaction vertex. This article describes tests on a human head fixed on formalin. The comparison with computed tomography scans and anatomical sections is encouraging. Slices with a volume element of 5.5 mm3 illustrate the sensitivity of the method. The results also demonstrate the ability of the method to select the density distribution of hydrogen by making use of the kinematic relations specific to elastic scattering. Trials of this method in living humans are being planned.