Observation of Tumor Specimen Using High Resolution Synchrotron Radiation Micro-CT System

A micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) system was developed using a 10-megapixel CCD camera for 3D biomedical imaging. The system consists of a beryllium window for X-ray incidence, a fluorescent screen, an optical mirror, high numerical aperture lenses and the CCD camera. X-rays are converted into a visible image in the screen which has a thickness of 10μm. The mirror deflects the luminescent light 90° to the lens system that focuses it on the camera. The X-ray field of view is 24-mm wide by 16-mm high (4, 024×2, 648 pixels); a pixel measures 6×6μm. A rabbit auricle specimen implanted with a carcinoma was fixed in formalin after a barium sulphate solution was injected into the blood vessels as a contrast agent. 3D images of the specimen were obtained by tomographic reconstruction, and small blood vessels induced by the tumor were seen.