Diffusible iodine‐based contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (diceCT): an emerging tool for rapid, high‐resolution, 3‐D imaging of metazoan soft tissues

• Paul M. Gignac ^[1] ; Nathan J. Kley ^[2] ; Julia A. Clarke ^[3] ; Matthew W. Colbert ^[3] ; Ashley C. Morhardt ^[4] ; Donald Cerio ^[4] ; Ian N. Cost ^[5] ; Philip G. Cox ^[12] ; Juan D. Daza ^[6] ; Catherine M. Early ^[4] ; M. Scott Echols ^[13] ; R. Mark Henkelman ^[7] ; A. Nele Herdina ^[8] ; Casey M. Holliday ^[5] ; Zhiheng Li ^[3] ; Kristin Mahlow ^[14] ; Samer Merchant ^[9] ; Johannes Müller ^[14] ; Courtney P. Orsbon ^[10] ; Daniel J. Paluh ^[11] ; Monte L. Thies ^[6] ; Henry P. Tsai ^[5] ; Lawrence M. Witmer ^[4]
  1. [1] Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences

     Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences

     Estados Unidos

     
  2. [2] Stony Brook University

     Stony Brook University

     Town of Brookhaven, Estados Unidos

     
  3. [3] University of Texas at Austin

     University of Texas at Austin

     Estados Unidos

     
  4. [4] Ohio University

     Ohio University

     Township of Athens, Estados Unidos

     
  5. [5] University of Missouri

     University of Missouri

     Township of Columbia, Estados Unidos

     
  6. [6] Sam Houston State University

     Sam Houston State University

     Estados Unidos

     
  7. [7] University of Toronto

     University of Toronto

     Canadá

     
  8. [8] University of Vienna

     University of Vienna

     Innere Stadt, Austria

     
  9. [9] University of Utah

     University of Utah

     Estados Unidos

     
  10. [10] University of Chicago

      University of Chicago

      City of Chicago, Estados Unidos

      
  11. [11] Villanova University

      Villanova University

      Township of Radnor, Estados Unidos

      
  12. [12] 6 Department of Archaeology University of York and Hull York Medical School York UK
  13. [13] 8 The Medical Center for Birds Oakley CA USA
  14. [14] 11 Museum für Naturkunde Leibniz‐Institut für Evolutions‐ und Biodiversitätforschung an der Humboldt‐Universität zu Berlin Berlin Germany

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• Localización: Journal of Anatomy, ISSN 0021-8782, Vol. 228, Nº. 6, 2016, págs. 889-909
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Morphologists have historically had to rely on destructive procedures to visualize the three‐dimensional (3‐D) anatomy of animals. More recently, however, non‐destructive techniques have come to the forefront. These include X‐ray computed tomography (CT), which has been used most commonly to examine the mineralized, hard‐tissue anatomy of living and fossil metazoans. One relatively new and potentially transformative aspect of current CT‐based research is the use of chemical agents to render visible, and differentiate between, soft‐tissue structures in X‐ray images. Specifically, iodine has emerged as one of the most widely used of these contrast agents among animal morphologists due to its ease of handling, cost effectiveness, and differential affinities for major types of soft tissues. The rapid adoption of iodine‐based contrast agents has resulted in a proliferation of distinct specimen preparations and scanning parameter choices, as well as an increasing variety of imaging hardware and software preferences. Here we provide a critical review of the recent contributions to iodine‐based, contrast‐enhanced CT research to enable researchers just beginning to employ contrast enhancement to make sense of this complex new landscape of methodologies. We provide a detailed summary of recent case studies, assess factors that govern success at each step of the specimen storage, preparation, and imaging processes, and make recommendations for standardizing both techniques and reporting practices. Finally, we discuss potential cutting‐edge applications of diffusible iodine‐based contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (diceCT) and the issues that must still be overcome to facilitate the broader adoption of diceCT going forward.