The “Tristan Otto” Tyrannosaurus rex skull that was taken a look at by researchers. Credit: RSNA and Charlie Hamm, M.D.
Researchers in Germany identified bone illness in the fossilized jaw of a Tyrannosaurus rex utilizing a CT-based, nondestructive imaging method, according to a research study being provided today at the annual conference of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The imaging technique could have considerable applications in paleontology, researchers stated, as an alternative to fossil evaluation approaches that include the damage of samples.
A familiar topic of todays popular culture, the T. rex was an enormous, carnivorous dinosaur that wandered what is now the western United States countless years ago. In 2010, a business paleontologist operating in Carter County, Montana, discovered among the most complete T. rex skeletons ever discovered. The fossilized skeleton go back approximately 68 million years to the Late Cretaceous duration. It was sold to a financial investment banker, who dubbed it “Tristan Otto” prior to lending it out to the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin in Germany. It is among just 2 original T. rex skeletons in Europe.
Charlie Hamm, M.D., a radiologist at Charité University Hospital in Berlin, and his associates recently had an opportunity to investigate a part of the Tristan Ottos lower left jaw. While previous fossil research studies have actually mainly relied on invasive tasting and analysis, Dr. Hamm and colleagues utilized a noninvasive method with a clinical CT scanner and a technique called dual-energy computed tomography (DECT). Credit: RSNA and Charlie Hamm, M.D.
” We hypothesized that DECT could might possibly for quantitative noninvasive element-based material decomposition and thereby help assist in characterizing unique distinct,” Dr. Hamm saidStated
The CT method allowed the researchers to get rid of the problems of scanning a large portion of Tristan Ottos lower jaw called the left dentary. The pieces high density was especially tough, as CT imaging quality is known to struggle with artifacts, or misstatements of tissue structures, when taking a look at very thick items.
” We needed to adjust the CT scanners tube existing and voltage in order to enhance and lessen artifacts image quality,” Dr. Hamm said.
On visual examination and CT imaging, the left dentary revealed thickening and a mass on its surface that encompassed the root of one of the teeth. DECT identified a substantial accumulation of the element fluorine in the mass, a finding associated with areas of decreased bone density. The mass and fluorine build-up supported the medical diagnosis of tumefactive osteomyelitis, an infection of the bone.
” While this is a proof-of-concept study, noninvasive DECT imaging that provides molecular and structural info on unique fossil things has the potential to address an unmet requirement in paleontology, avoiding defragmentation or destruction,” Dr. Hamm stated.
” The DECT method has pledge in other paleontological applications, such as age decision and differentiation of real bone from replicas,” added Oliver Hampe, Ph.D., senior scientist and vertebrate paleontologist from the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin. “The speculative design, consisting of making use of a clinical CT scanner, will permit broad applications.”
Dr. Hamm and his coworkers also teamed up with paleontologists from the Chicagos Field Museum and coworkers from the Richard and Loan Hill Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago to carry out a CT analysis of the world-famous T. rex “Sue” that is housed in the museum.
” With every job, our collaborative network grew and developed into a genuinely multidisciplinary group of professionals in geology, radiology, mineralogy and paleontology, highlighting the potential and significance of the outcomes to different scientific fields,” Dr. Hamm said.
Additional co-authors are Patrick Asbach, M.D., Torsten Diekhoff, M.D., and Lynn Savic, M.D.
Meeting: 107th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America
Credit: RSNA and Charlie Hamm, M.D.
Researchers in Germany identified recognized disease illness the fossilized jaw of a Tyrannosaurus rex using utilizing CT-based, nondestructive imaging approachMethod according to a study research study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Charlie Hamm, M.D., a radiologist at Charité University Hospital in Berlin, and his associates just recently had a chance to examine a part of the Tristan Ottos lower left jaw. While previous fossil research studies have actually mainly relied on intrusive sampling and analysis, Dr. Hamm and associates used a noninvasive approach with a scientific CT scanner and a strategy called dual-energy computed tomography (DECT). Credit: RSNA and Charlie Hamm, M.D.
” We hypothesized that DECT could potentially allow enable quantitative noninvasive element-based material product decay thereby therefore paleontologists in characterizing identifying special,” Dr. Hamm said.
On visual assessment and CT imaging, the left dentary showed thickening and a mass on its surface area that extended to the root of one of the teeth.