3D microstructure analysis of human pulmonary emphysema using a synchrotron radiation CT

Progressive life-threatening lung disease is serious illness. Quantitative three-dimensional (3D) analysis of microstructure of human lung provides detailed information to understand the onset and progression of lung disease. We reported how to analyze normal structures of pulmonary lobule. This study is to elucidate 3D microstructures of emphysema. Two specimens of emphysema are examined using SRμCT. Compare 3D microstructures of bronchial and vasculature between emphysema and normal lungs. Eleven lung specimens were inflated and fixed using the Heitzman fixation method. These measurement experiments were performed at 20 or 25 keV X-ray energy on the SPring-8 beamline BL20B2. The reconstructed 3D image is about 13,370 x 13,370 x 4,900 voxels with an isotropic voxel size of 3μm. Vasculature and bronchi were extracted using a hierarchical algorithm with curvature analysis. The capillary bed and alveoli clusters of normal lung and emphysema were analyzed. In the case of emphysema, large alveoli clusters and thinner capillary beds were observed.