Cellular-resolution 3D virtual histology of human coronary arteries using x-ray phase tomography

A collaboration between researchers in physics and medicine in Stockholm has reported on the use of phase-contrast imaging to analyse atherosclerotic human coronary arteries. The calcifications in the arteries are easily identified, but thanks to the phase contrast, also the cholesterol can be identified despide their low contrast. Groups of just a few foam cells can be identified, which are important to study for understanding the build-up process in atherosclerosis.