Classical histology is the gold standard for soft-tissue analysis, and it is performed by imaging thin slices of a sample with a microscope. While the resolution is high in two dimensions, the sample preparation to be able to record images is time consuming, destructive and effectively limiting the recorded data to two dimensions. We propose virtual histology by x-ray phase-contrast computed tomography (CT) as a non-destructive imaging method to be used as a complement to classical histology. With our laboratory system, we focus on detailed imaging of soft-tissue tumours with the aim of distinguishing the tumour from healthy tissue.
Purpose: Surgery is an essential part of the curative plan for most patients affected with solid tumors. The outcome of such surgery, e.g., recurrence rates and ultimately patient survival, depends on several factors where the resection margin is of key importance. Presently, the resection margin is assessed by classical histology, which is time-consuming (several days), destructive, and basically only gives two-dimensional information. Clearly, it would be advantageous if immediate feedback on tumor extension in all three dimensions were available to the surgeon intraoperatively.
Approach: We investigate a laboratory propagation-based phase-contrast x-ray computed tomography system that provides the resolution, the contrast, and, potentially, the speed for this purpose. The system relies on a liquid-metal jet microfocus source and a scintillator-coated CMOS detector. Our study is performed on paraffin-embedded non-stained samples of human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, liver intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and pancreatic serous cystic neoplasm (benign).
Results: We observe tumors with distinct and sharp edges having cellular resolution (∼10 μm) as well as many assisting histological landmarks, allowing for resection margin assessment. All x-ray data are compared with classical histology. The agreement is excellent.
Conclusion: We conclude that the method has potential for intraoperative three-dimensional virtual histology.
Surgery is an essential part of the curative plan for most patients affected with solid tumors. The outcome of such surgery, e.g., recurrence rates and ultimately patient survival, depends on several factors where the resection margin is of key importance. Presently the resection margin is assessed by classical histology, which is time-consuming (several days), destructive, and basically only gives two-dimensional information. Clearly it would be advantageous if immediate feedback on tumor extension in all three dimensions were available to the surgeon intra-operatively. In the present paper we investigate a laboratory propagation-based phase-contrast xray computed tomography (CT) system that provides the resolution, contrast, and, potentially, the speed for this purpose. The system relies on a liquid-metal jet micro-focus source and a scintillator-coated CMOS detector. The study is performed on paraffin-embedded non-stained samples of human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, liver intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, and pancreatic serous cystic neoplasm (benign). We observe tumors with distinct and sharp edges having cellular resolution (∼10 μm) as well as many assisting histological landmarks, allowing for resection margin assessment. All x-ray data is compared with classical histology. The agreement is excellent, and we conclude that the method has potential for intra-operative three-dimensional virtual histology.
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