Dental Imaging Using Mesoscopic Fluorescence Molecular Tomography: An ex Vivo Feasibility Study

Photonics

Feixiao Long²  Mehmet S. Ozturk²  Mark S. Wolff¹  Xavier Intes² 

[1] Department of Cariology and Comprehensive Care, New York University College of Dentistry, Floor 16N Dental Center, 421 First Avenue, New York, NY 10010, USA; E-Mail:;Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY 12180, USA; E-Mails:

关键词: dental imaging;    mesoscopic molecular fluorescence tomography;    laminar optical tomography;    Monte Carlo;   

DOI  :  10.3390/photonics1040488

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Some dental lesions are difficult to detect with traditional anatomical imaging methods, such as, with visual observation, dental radiography and X-ray computed tomography (CT). Therefore, we investigated the viability of using an optical imaging technique, Mesoscopic Fluorescence Molecular Tomography (MFMT) to retrieve molecular contrast in dental samples. To establish feasibility of obtaining 3-D images in teeth using MFMT, molecular contrast was simulated using a dye-filled capillary that was placed in the lower half of human tooth ex vivo. The dye and excitation wavelength were chosen to be excited at 650–660 nm in order to simulate a carious lesion. The location of the capillary was varied by changing the depth from the surface at which the dye, at various concentrations, was introduced. MFMT reconstructions were benchmarked against micro-CT. Overall; MFMT exhibited a location accuracy of ~15% and a volume accuracy of ~15%, up to 2 mm depth with moderate dye concentrations. These results demonstrate the potential of MFMT to retrieve molecular contrast in 3-D in highly scattering tissues, such as teeth.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.