Roiser Nathalie, Scholz Josef, Kimm Melanie A, Andrejewski Jana, Baumgartner Christine, Braig Eva, Herzen Julia, Pfeiffer Daniela, Korbel Rüdiger
Zentrum für klinische Tiermedizin, Klinik für Vögel, Kleinsäuger, Reptilien und Zierfische, Tierärztliche Fakultät der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
Lehrstuhl für Biomedizinische Physik, Fakultät für Physik und Munich School of BioEngineering, Technische Universität München.
Tierarztl Prax Ausg K Kleintiere Heimtiere. 2022 Jun;50(3):185-196. doi: 10.1055/a-1843-7736. Epub 2022 Jul 5.
The aim of this study is to evaluate whether X-ray dark-field (DF) radiography is useful for the diagnosis of gout in birds and reptiles and whether this preclinical model could be helpful to establish this non-invasive imaging method in human medicine.
A total of 18 limbs originating from 11 birds (7 different species) and 7 reptiles (4 different species) with and without suspected joint gout were measured using a grating-based X-ray dark-field setup and conventional X-ray examination, respectively. Each image acquisition generated a dark-field and a conventional absorption x-ray image. The results of the individual scans were compared with the results of a pathological examination and arthrocentesis.
In 5 of the birds and 4 of the reptiles examined, gout was detected by pathologic examination. In each group, uric acid crystals were found in the joints of 3 animals by means of arthrocentesis. The uric acid crystals were detectable in 2 bird and 2 reptile limbs in the dark-field image.
The study demonstrated that the urate crystals evoke a clearly visible dark field signal, whereas this was not the case in the conventional radiographs.
The results obtained show that uric acid crystal detection using less invasive imaging methods in an animal model with birds and reptiles may expand gout diagnostics not only in veterinary medicine but also in human medicine and possibly replace arthrocentesis if a DF signal is detectable. Preclinical scanners which use X-ray dark-field and phase-contrast radiography already exist for hands and mammography.
本研究旨在评估X射线暗场（DF）射线照相术对鸟类和爬行动物痛风诊断是否有用，以及这种临床前模型是否有助于在人类医学中建立这种非侵入性成像方法。
分别使用基于光栅的X射线暗场装置和传统X射线检查，对来自11只鸟类（7个不同物种）和7只爬行动物（4个不同物种）、有或无疑似关节痛风的18个肢体进行测量。每次图像采集都会生成一幅暗场和一幅传统吸收式X射线图像。将个体扫描结果与病理检查和关节穿刺结果进行比较。
在检查的5只鸟类和4只爬行动物中，通过病理检查检测到痛风。在每组中，通过关节穿刺在3只动物的关节中发现尿酸晶体。在暗场图像中，在2只鸟类和2只爬行动物的肢体中可检测到尿酸晶体。
该研究表明，尿酸盐晶体可引发清晰可见的暗场信号，而传统X线片则不然。
所得结果表明，在鸟类和爬行动物的动物模型中使用侵入性较小的成像方法检测尿酸晶体，不仅可能扩大兽医学中的痛风诊断范围，还可能扩大人类医学中的痛风诊断范围，并且如果可检测到DF信号，可能会取代关节穿刺。目前已经有用于手部和乳腺摄影的使用X射线暗场和相衬射线照相术的临床前扫描仪。
