University of Calabria researchers develop 3D thyroid imaging method

Researchers from the University of Calabria and the University of Trieste have developed a new method for “virtual histology” that allows for the three-dimensional study of thyroid tissue without the need for physical sectioning.

Published in IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging, the study demonstrates that a laboratory X-ray micro-tomography system can reconstruct human thyroid tissue in 3D while simultaneously mapping the distribution of iodine within the sample. The method achieved a resolution of approximately 20 micrometers and a sensitivity of 1 mg/ml, which is sufficient to detect small variations in iodine concentration.

Iodine is essential for producing thyroid hormones that regulate metabolism. Because alterations in iodine accumulation can be linked to various pathologies, including certain tumors, this 3D spatial mapping could provide critical diagnostic details in the future. The research utilized artificial intelligence to enhance image quality and measurement precision. While the study successfully tested four samples, it is not yet a clinical examination.