Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine and Imaging, University of Bern, Buehlstrasse 20, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.
Radiographics. 2012 Sep-Oct;32(5):1553-9. doi: 10.1148/rg.325115742.
The study of fossils permits the reconstruction of past life on our planet and enhances our understanding of evolutionary processes. However, many fossils are difficult to recognize, being encased in a lithified matrix whose tedious removal is required before examination is possible. The authors describe the use of multidetector computed tomography (CT) in locating, identifying, and examining fossil remains of crocodilians (Mesosuchia) embedded in hard shale, all without removing the matrix. In addition, they describe how three-dimensional (3D) reformatted CT images provided details that were helpful for extraction and preparation. Multidetector CT can help experienced paleontologists localize and characterize fossils in the matrix of a promising rock specimen in a nondestructive manner. Moreover, with its capacity to generate highly accurate 3D images, multidetector CT can help determine whether the fossils warrant extraction and can assist in planning the extraction process. Thus, multidetector CT may well become an invaluable tool in the field of paleoradiology.
化石研究可以重建我们星球上过去的生命，并增进我们对进化过程的理解。然而，许多化石很难被识别，因为它们被包裹在一个已经石化的基质中，在进行检查之前，需要繁琐地去除这个基质。作者描述了如何使用多探测器计算机断层扫描（CT）来定位、识别和检查嵌入坚硬页岩中的鳄形类（中龙目）化石遗骸，整个过程无需去除基质。此外，他们还描述了如何使用三维（3D）重组 CT 图像提供有助于提取和准备的详细信息。多探测器 CT 可以帮助有经验的古生物学家以非破坏性的方式在有前途的岩石标本的基质中定位和描述化石。此外，多探测器 CT 能够生成高度精确的 3D 图像，可以帮助确定化石是否值得提取，并有助于提取过程的规划。因此，多探测器 CT 很可能成为古放射学领域中一种非常有价值的工具。
