MicroCAT II
II. MicroCAT II
The microCAT II (Siemens Preclinical Solutions, Knoxville, TN) is a high resolution (50 microns) CT scanner designed specifically for imaging small animals such as mice and rats.
The radiation detector is configurable such that, for mice, the transaxial field of view is 5.4 cm and the axial field of view is 8 cm; whereas, for rats, the transaxial field of view is 8 cm and the axial field of view is 5.4 cm. We have utilized microCT for tumor imaging and for anatomical correlation with microPET studies. As with radiographic imaging, generally, bone-soft tissue, and lung-soft tissue contrasts are excellent but contrast for soft tissue is poor without intravenous contrast agents.
