Imaging Group

Role

The Group applies current and novel medical imaging techniques for research in respiratory and sleep medicine. Although the three-dimensional imaging methods that we currently use are whole body CT, micro X-ray tomography (micro-CT) and SPECT/CT, we can call on other modes of imaging when necessary that are best suited for a particular research study.

Research

Pulmonary vascular disease
We have continued to work on pulmonary vascular disease, which comprises pulmonary embolism, idiopathic pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary hypertension associated with scleroderma. Using SPECT/CT to measure the disruption in blood flow to the lungs, there have been exciting results which we have submitted for publication in the area of pulmonary hypertension. The work in pulmonary hypertension is ongoing.

COPD
SPECT/CT work has been applied to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) where we have been looking at the relationship between lung density measured by CT, and ventilation measured by Technegas SPECT. This is being done as part of the development of new and advanced image analyses methods that we intend to apply to study the abnormal physiology of respiratory diseases. This new tool also forms the basis of a new project in which we look at the mechanisms of how bronchodilators benefit COPD patients, in terms of improving the way their lungs function.

Lung Cancer
A new area for this group is lung cancer, this has been conducted by Dr Ben Harris who is a Fellow of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Royal North Shore Hospital and Dr Sophie Timmins, an Advanced Respiratory Trainee of the Department. The results are to be presented at the upcoming American Thoracic Society Meeting at San Francisco.

Multiple breath nitrogen washout with SPECT/CT
An exciting project which typifies the nature of the Imaging Group’s work has started. This study will investigate the nature of a new measurement of small airways disease, called the multiple breath nitrogen washout, with SPECT/CT. The Physiology Group has shown the importance of the washout measurements in asthma, however, there is uncertainty about what abnormalities are being detected by the washout test. The three-dimensional nature of SPECT/CT will be ideal to investigate the mechanisms of abnormal ventilation in asthma.

HRCT scans
We are also working in collaboration with Dr Allan Jones in a Woolcock Institute/ARC funded project to further develop the objective analysis methods for HRCT scans, so that we are able to measure airway dimensions and lung tissue parameters using a PC-based program. This requires validation using the Micro-CT to make gold standard measurements of fixed animal lung tissue and is a continuation of the project begun initially in Vancouver by Dr King and carried on by Ms Jessica Dame Carroll. Dr Meier brings much technical programming and complex signal expertise to the project and has been very helpful in providing programming support to the SPECT/CT projects.