Magnetic Resonance Microscopy at 14 Tesla and Correlative Histopathology of Human Brain Tumor Tissue

Abstract

Magnetic Resonance Microscopy (MRM) can provide high microstructural detail in excised human lesions. Previous MRM images on some experimental models and a few human samples suggest the large potential of the technique. The aim of this study was the characterization of specific morphological features of human brain tumor samples by MRM and correlative histopathology. We performed MRM imaging and correlative histopathology in 19 meningioma and 11 glioma human brain tumor samples obtained at surgery. To our knowledge, this is the first MRM direct structural characterization of human brain tumor samples. MRM of brain tumor tissue provided images with 35 to 40 µm spatial resolution. The use of MRM to study human brain tumor samples provides new microstructural information on brain tumors for better classification and characterization. The correlation between MRM and histopathology images allowed the determination of image parameters for critical microstructures of the tumor, like collagen patterns, necrotic foci, calcifications and/or psammoma bodies, vascular distribution and hemorrhage among others. Therefore, MRM may help in interpreting the Clinical Magnetic Resonance images in terms of cell biology processes and tissue patterns. Finally, and most importantly for clinical diagnosis purposes, it provides three-dimensional information in intact samples which may help in selecting a preferential orientation for the histopathology slicing which contains most of the informative elements of the biopsy. Overall, the findings reported here provide a new and unique microstructural view of intact human brain tumor tissue. At this point, our approach and results allow the identification of specific tissue types and pathological features in unprocessed tumor samples.

Glioma Grade Discrimination with MR Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging: A Meta-Analysis of Diagnostic Accuracy

“…LGGs can be regarded as representing relatively homogeneous tissue, with little intravoxel variation in cell density. The microstructure of HGGs, however, exhibits a large disarray, with necrotic portions with high apparent diffusion coefficient mixed with dense regions with low apparent diffusion coefficient (26,27). This could also explain the dependence of the results on echo time; microscopic portions of the tumors with low cell density would exhibit longer T2 times than would portions with high cell density.…”

Infrared Spectroscopic Studies of Cells and Tissues: Triple Helix Proteins as a Potential Biomarker for Tumors

“…Both spectra show fairly strong IR signals at 1337, 1314, 1280, and 1240 cm −1 . Meningiomas are known for having high amounts of collagens in their ECMs [29], and this appears to be reflected in their infrared spectrum. The signal at 1337 cm −1 is usually attributed to the CH 2 vibrations from prolines within a triple helix (red arrows) [26]–[28].…”

MR microscopy of the human finger and correlation with histology—a proof‐of‐principle study

“…Before the advent of high-resolution MRI, spatial resolution for evaluating these pathological conditions was limited (Lee et al, 2008). High-resolution MRI with a spatial resolution on the order of less than 100mm is known as MR microscopy (MRM) (Gonzalez-Segura et al, 2011). MRM provides anatomical images at high resolution and may be used as a bridge between clinical MRI and histopathology (Thali et al, 2004;Gonzalez-Segura et al, 2011).…”

“…High-resolution MRI with a spatial resolution on the order of less than 100mm is known as MR microscopy (MRM) (Gonzalez-Segura et al, 2011). MRM provides anatomical images at high resolution and may be used as a bridge between clinical MRI and histopathology (Thali et al, 2004;Gonzalez-Segura et al, 2011). Previous studies investigating MRM of the finger have been performed either on clinical routine scanners with a dedicated MR microscopy coil or on spectrometers (Thali et al, 2004).…”

“…Nevertheless, histological examination is required for definitive evaluation of tumor size, morphology, and infiltration of surrounding structures or of the extent of inflammatory processes (Hayden et al, 2004;Gonzalez-Segura et al, 2011).…”