Advanced 3-D X-Ray Imaging Provides Insight into the Progression of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Researchers have used a novel and advanced 3D Computer Tomography (CT) imaging technique to follow the development of an aggressive deadly lung disease called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).

IPF is currently diagnosed using 2D CT scans or by taking a lung biopsy in hospital for investigation under an optical microscope. The new technique, originally designed for aircraft engineering, is used to carry out 3D scans of lung biopsy samples at a resolution similar to that of an optical microscope.

The team from the UK National Institute for Health Research Southampton Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit (BRU), University of Southampton (Southampton, UK) used CT equipment at the µ-VIS Centre for Computed Tomography (Southampton, UK) to perform the Microfocus CT scans. The scan technique involves rotating the biopsy sample 360 degrees while making numerous 2D images, which are rendered into detailed 3D images.

The results of the research were published in the April 21, 2016, issue of the journal JCI Insight. The incidence of IPF in the UK is increasing by 5% every year. In 2015 more than 5,000 new cases were diagnosed in the UK. One of the symptoms of patients with IPF, an interstitial lung disease, is difficulty breathing. The disease causes inflammation, and scarring of lung tissue, and patients have a life expectancy of between three and five years.

Lead author of the study, Dr. Mark Jones, University of Southampton, said, “Whilst accurate diagnosis of IPF is essential to start the correct treatment, in certain cases this can be extremely challenging to do using the tools currently available. This technology advance is very exciting as for the first time it gives us the chance to view lung biopsy samples in 3D. We think that the new information gained from seeing the lung in 3D has the potential to transform how diseases such as IPF are diagnosed. It will also help to increase our understanding of how these scarring lung diseases develop which we hope will ultimately mean better targeted treatments are developed for every patient.”

Related Links:
UK National Institute for Health Research Southampton Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit (BRU), University of Southamptonµ-VIS Centre for Computed Tomography