Researchers from the Technical University of Munich identified a unique X-ray technique for respiratory diagnostics in patients. Dark-field X-rays can detect early changes in the alveolar structure caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by utilizing only a fraction of the radiation dosage required in the traditional X-ray computed tomography. This technique can be utilized for a wide range of medical applications in the early diagnosis and treatment of respiratory conditions. More than four million people die each year from severe respiratory illnesses worldwide.
COPD, one such life-threatening respiratory illness, is characterized by partially damaged alveoli and an over-inflation of the lungs (emphysema). However, the subtle differences between healthy and sick tissue are rarely evident on traditional chest x-rays. Only three-dimensional computed tomography…
