First human Cerenkography

Antonello E. Spinelli; Marco Ferdeghini; Carlo Cavedon; Emanuele Zivelonghi; Riccardo Calandrino; Alberto Fenzi; Andrea Sbarbati; Federico Boschi

doi:10.1117/1.JBO.18.2.020502

18 January 2013 First human Cerenkography

Antonello E. Spinelli, Marco Ferdeghini, Carlo Cavedon, Emanuele Zivelonghi, Riccardo Calandrino, Alberto Fenzi, Andrea Sbarbati, Federico Boschi

Author Affiliations +

Journal of Biomedical Optics, Vol. 18, Issue 2, 020502 (January 2013). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.18.2.020502

Abstract

Cerenkov luminescence imaging is an emerging optical preclinical modality based on the detection of Cerenkov radiation induced by beta particles when traveling though biological tissues with a velocity greater than the speed of light. We present the first human Cerenkography obtained by detecting Cerenkov radiation escaping the thyroid gland of a patient treated for hyperthyroidism. The Cerenkov light was detected using an electron multiplied charge coupled device and a conventional C-mount lens. The system set-up has been tested by using a slab of ex vivo tissue equal to a 1 cm slice of chicken breast in order to simulate optical photons attenuation. We then imaged for 2 min the head and neck region of a patient treated orally 24 h before with 550 MBq of I-131. Co-registration between photographic and Cerenkov images showed a good localization of the Cerenkov light within the thyroid region. In conclusion, we showed that it is possible to obtain a planar image of Cerenkov photons escaping from a human tissue. Cerenkography is a potential novel medical tool to image superficial organs of patients treated with beta minus radiopharmaceuticals and can be extended to the imaging of beta plus emitters.

Citation Download Citation

Antonello E. Spinelli, Marco Ferdeghini, Carlo Cavedon, Emanuele Zivelonghi, Riccardo Calandrino, Alberto Fenzi, Andrea Sbarbati, and Federico Boschi "First human Cerenkography," Journal of Biomedical Optics 18(2), 020502 (18 January 2013). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.18.2.020502

Published: 18 January 2013

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

JOURNAL ARTICLE
3 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY