Hellerhoff, K., Birnbacher, L., Sztrókay-Gaul, A., Grandl, S., Auweter, S., Willner, M., Marschner, M., Mayr, D., Reiser, M.F., Pfeiffer, F. and Herzen, J. Assessment of intraductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) using grating-based X-ray phase-contrast CT at conventional X-ray sources: An experimental ex-vivo study. PLOS One 14(1), e0210291 (2019) [https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0210291]

Purpose: GBPC-CT imaging at conventional X-ray sources offers improved depiction quality for the imaging of breast tissue samples compared to absorption-based imaging, allows the identification of diagnostically relevant tissue details, and provides full three-dimensional assessment of sample margins. 

Figure: Attenuation, phase-contrast, and histology images of sample 4. (A) The absorption images reveal no differentiation of ductal structures and glandular tissue. The microcalcifications are well depicted. The attenuation data is displayed in a linear range of [-60,60] HU. (B) The phase-contrast image visualizes an overall higher signal in the haemorrhagic area but low contrast of the dilated ducts in the areas of DCIS (encircled regions). Bright delineation of duct walls is visible in both areas and the microcalcifications are clearly depicted. The phase-contrast data is displayed in a linear range of [-100,100] HUp. (C) Histological section (overview, HE stained) showing haemorrhage in an area of dilated ducts with normal monolayer epithelium (arrows) and regions of ducts with multilayer epithelium and microcalcifications representing DCIS (circles).