Some possible applications of computerized tomography in pathology.

Computerized tomography may be adaptable to microscopic and gross pathology. Low voltage (3 to 8 keV) X-ray histologic tomography of frozen 1 to 3 mm cylinders of tissue should provide atomic-number-dependent absorption coefficients because of photoelectric capture by the common light elements in such tissue. Fixation, sectioning, and staining artifacts would be obviated. Elements of a design for a rotate-only microgantry are described. For gross pathology, existing whole body scanners could be modified by finer collimation, longer exposure times, and higher X-ray fluxes to produce tomograms of much higher resolution than is possible during life, since movement and administered radiation dose would not be problematical. Suspected pathology could be needle aspirated, thus avoiding gross dissection where it is forbidden for religious or other reasons.