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Updated: Nov 10, 2025
In Vivo Quantitative Assessment of Myocardial Structure, Function, Perfusion and Viability Using Cardiac Micro-computed Tomography
Published on: February 16, 2016
A Review of Ex Vivo X-ray Microfocus Computed Tomography-Based Characterization of the Cardiovascular System
Lisa Leyssens1,2, Camille Pestiaux1,2, Greet Kerckhofs1,2,3,4
1Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
Insights
Ex vivo microCT, CE-CT, and PC-CT offer high-resolution 3D imaging for cardiovascular microstructure. These techniques reveal structural changes in the heart and vasculature, aiding disease understanding.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Imaging
- Cardiovascular Research
- Microstructural Analysis
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases require detailed microstructural understanding for effective treatment.
- Current in vivo imaging lacks the resolution for microstructural analysis of the heart and vasculature.
- Ex vivo imaging provides superior resolution for detailed cardiovascular assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the strengths of ex vivo microCT, CE-CT, and PC-CT for cardiovascular microstructure imaging.
- To discuss the application of these techniques in healthy and diseased states.
- To highlight limitations in contrast methods and tissue preparation for ex vivo cardiovascular imaging.
Main Methods:
- Ex vivo X-ray microfocus computed tomography (microCT) for high-resolution 3D structural imaging.
- Contrast-enhanced microCT (CE-CT) for distinguishing soft tissues.
- Phase-contrast microCT (PC-CT) for enhanced soft tissue contrast.
Main Results:
- Ex vivo microCT, CE-CT, and PC-CT enable quantitative 3D imaging of cardiovascular structures and microstructures.
- These methods are valuable for assessing both healthy and diseased cardiovascular tissues.
- Improved soft tissue contrast is achievable with CE-CT and PC-CT.
Conclusions:
- Ex vivo microCT, CE-CT, and PC-CT are powerful tools for detailed cardiovascular microstructural analysis.
- Further advancements in contrast agents and tissue preparation are needed to overcome current limitations.
- These imaging techniques are crucial for advancing the understanding and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular malformations and diseases are common but complex and often not yet fully understood. To better understand the effects of structural and microstructural changes of the heart and the vasculature on their proper functioning, a detailed characterization of the microstructure is crucial. In vivo imaging approaches are noninvasive and allow visualizing the heart and the vasculature in 3D. However, their spatial image resolution is often too limited for microstructural analyses, and hence, ex vivo imaging is preferred for this purpose. Ex vivo X-ray microfocus computed tomography (microCT) is a rapidly emerging high-resolution 3D structural imaging technique often used for the assessment of calcified tissues. Contrast-enhanced microCT (CE-CT) or phase-contrast microCT (PC-CT) improve this technique by additionally allowing the distinction of different low X-ray-absorbing soft tissues. In this review, we present the strengths of ex vivo microCT, CE-CT and PC-CT for quantitative 3D imaging of the structure and/or microstructure of the heart, the vasculature and their substructures in healthy and diseased state. We also discuss their current limitations, mainly with regard to the contrasting methods and the tissue preparation.
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