Diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced computed tomography (diceCT): an emerging tool for rapid, high-resolution, 3-D imaging of metazoan soft tissues.

Paul Gignac, Nathan Kley, Julia Clarke, Matthew Colbert, Ashley Morhardt, Donald Cerio, Ian Cost, Philip Graham Cox, Juan Daza, Catherine Early, Scott Echols, Mark Henkelman, Nele Herdina, Casey Holliday, Zhiheng Li, Kristin Mahlow, Samer Merchant, Johannes Muller, Courtney Orsbon, Daniel PaluhMonte Thies, Henry Tsai, Lawrence Witmer

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Morphologists have historically had to rely on destructive procedures to visualize the three-dimensional (3-D) anatomy of animals. More recently, however, non-destructive techniques have come to the forefront. These include X-ray computed tomography (CT), which has been used most commonly to examine the mineralized, hard-tissue anatomy of living and fossil metazoans. One relatively new and potentially transformative aspect of current CT-based research is the use of chemical agents to render visible, and differentiate between, soft-tissue structures in X-ray images. Specifically, iodine has emerged as one of the most widely used of these contrast agents among animal morphologists due to its ease of handling, cost effectiveness, and differential affinities for major types of soft tissues. The rapid adoption of iodine-based contrast agents has resulted in a proliferation of distinct specimen preparations and scanning parameter choices, as well as an increasing variety of imaging hardware and software preferences. Here we provide a critical review of the recent contributions to iodine-based, contrast-enhanced CT research to enable researchers just beginning to employ contrast enhancement to make sense of this complex new landscape of methodologies. We provide a detailed summary of recent case studies, assess factors that govern success at each step of the specimen storage, preparation, and imaging processes, and make recommendations for standardizing both techniques and reporting practices. Finally, we discuss potential cutting-edge applications of diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced computed tomography (diceCT) and the issues that must still be overcome to facilitate the broader adoption of diceCT going forward.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)889-909
Number of pages21
JournalJournal of Anatomy
Volume228
Issue number6
Early online date11 Mar 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2016

Bibliographical note

© 2016 The Authors. Journal of Anatomy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Anatomical Society.

Keywords

  • Alcoholic iodine
  • Destaining
  • Lugol's iodine
  • Radiographic contrast agents
  • Three-dimensional imaging
  • X-ray micro-CT scanning

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