Usage of density analysis based on micro-CT for studying lung injury associated with burn–blast combined injury

Abstract Background Burn–blast combined injury is a kind of injury caused by heat and blast at the same time. The lung injury after burn–blast combined injuries is of primary importance, and investigation of lung injury is needed in the clinical care of patients. Computed tomography (CT) is one of the standard tools used to observe the anatomical basis and pathophysiology of acute lung injury. Methods We applied a method of fast 3D (three-dimensional) reconstruction to calculate the density value of the lung injury by CT analysis. Blast-injury group (BL group), burn-injury group (B group), burn–blast combined injury group (BBL group), and sham control group (C group) were established. Each group had 16 rats. The three-dimensional images of the lung tissue were obtained at 6 h, 24 h, and 48 h according to the CT value. The average density of the whole lung, left lung, and right lung were measured. The lung tissues were paraffin-embedded and HE stained. Smith scoring was performed according to the pathological findings. Results In the BBL group, the density of the lung tissue was higher than those of the BL group and B group (P  Conclusion The results have indicated that density analysis through a CT scan can be used as a way to evaluate lung injury in a burn–blast injury.