Whole organ cross-section chemical imaging using label-free mega-mosaic FTIR microscopy

Abstract

FTIR chemical imaging has been demonstrated as a promising technique to construct automated systems to complement histopathological evaluation of biomedical tissue samples. The rapid chemical imaging of large areas of tissue has previously been a limiting factor in this application. Consequently, smaller areas of tissue have previously had to be sampled, possibly introducing sampling bias and potentially missing diagnostically important areas. In this report a high spatial resolution chemical image of a whole prostate cross section is shown comprising 66 million pixels. Each pixel represents an area 5.5 × 5.5 μm(2) of tissue and contains a full infrared spectrum providing a chemical fingerprint. The data acquisition time was 14 hours, thus showing that a clinical time frame of hours rather than days has been achieved.

A decade (2004 – 2014) of FTIR prostate cancer spectroscopy studies: An overview of recent advancements

“…After the progress in research about IR spectroscopy being used in biological material and for diagnosing diseases in the last decade (1994 − 2004) as indicated by Diem et al [1], many other studies and papers using FTIR spectroscopy as an imaging tool or in classifying spectral categories and determining the distinction between benign and malignant tumours in tissue samples of prostates have been reported by Lasch et al [20], Gazi et al [11,21,22], Harvey et al [11,23], Baker et al [24][25][26], Bassan et al [27][28][29][30], Hughes et al [31] and Malins et al [4,5]. More particularities of FTIR application in prostate cancer diagnoses and classification are described further in this review.…”

High-resolution FTIR imaging of colon tissues for elucidation of individual cellular and histopathological features

“…In recent years, the availability of focal plane array (FPA) detectors with the bench top imaging systems have provided the possibility of measuring large tissue areas in shorter time frames. [19][20][21][22][23] The combination of these detectors and the collection optics enabled collection of spectra at a pixel size of as little as 5.5 × 5.5 µm 2 , which can provide information from gross histological features such as epithelial glands, cellular clusters etc., in tissues such as colon; or glandular regions in tissues such as the breast. One of the limitations in obtaining smaller pixel sizes using such benchtop instruments is the low signal-to-noise which is effectively dependent on the type of optics and the use of conventional light sources such as Globar®.…”

Raman spectroscopy for screening and diagnosis of cervical cancer

“…Similar potential advantages of Raman spectroscopic approaches for histopathology can be identified, although it is recognised that current mapping/imaging times of large areas of tissue followed by current pre-and post-data processing protocols need to be improved [52]. Although significant progress has been made, there is much to be done in terms of standardising procedures and protocols.…”