Imaging procedures. New methods modify surgery

Imaging methods play a crucial role in the field of craniomaxillofacial (CMF) surgery. This article describes two X-ray imaging modalities which will influence the field of CMF. In particular, the article introduces multi-spectral computed tomography (CT) which will bring better soft-tissue contrast in computed tomography. Although still in its early stages of development, differential phase-contrast imaging will be integrated into computed tomography systems in the near future. As phase-contrast imaging is independent of Xray absorption and measures the real part of the refractive index of tissues, it offers even better soft tissue contrast than magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) microscopy.