Whole-body imaging of whole-organ, subresolution, basic functional unit (BFU) perfusion characteristics

Yue Dong M.D.; Erik L. Ritman M.D.

doi:10.1117/12.793169

15 September 2008 Whole-body imaging of whole-organ, subresolution, basic functional unit (BFU) perfusion characteristics

Yue Dong M.D., Erik L. Ritman M.D.

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7078, Developments in X-Ray Tomography VI; 707806 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.793169
Event: Optical Engineering + Applications, 2008, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

A BFU is an organ's smallest assembly of diverse cells that functions like the organ, such as the liver's hepatic lobules. There are approximately 10⁷ BFUs in a human organ. These 100-200 μm structures are perfused by capillaries fed by a terminal arteriole (15μm diameter). BFU sizes, function and number per organ vary with disease, either by loss of BFUs and/or their decrease in function. The BFU is the upper limit of a spherical assembly of cells, immersed in a suitably nutrient medium, which can survive without its own blood supply. However, each BFU has its own blood supply to support the extra energy and/or solutes needed for providing its physiological function (e.g., contraction or secretion). A BFU function is best evaluated by its micro-perfusion, which can be readily evaluated with whole-body CT. Resolution of individual BFUs within in-situ organs, using clinical imaging devices, would require high radiation doses and/or the intolerably long scan-durations needed for suitable signal-to-noise image-data. However, it is possible to obtain a statistical description of the BFU number, size and function from wholebody CT by way of a model. In this study we demonstrate this capability by using the distribution of myocardial terminal arteriolar perfusion territories by way of a nested, multiple, regions-of-interest analysis of the heart wall imaged during transient opacification of its blood supply.

Citation Download Citation

Yue Dong M.D. and Erik L. Ritman M.D. "Whole-body imaging of whole-organ, subresolution, basic functional unit (BFU) perfusion characteristics", Proc. SPIE 7078, Developments in X-Ray Tomography VI, 707806 (15 September 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.793169

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