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.
Highlights
Brain tumors affect a larger percentage of the population as lifespan increases
All Magnetic Resonance Microscopy (MRM) images acquired and correlative histopathology are shown in the supplementary material
The histopathology study ensures the correct interpretation of the different MRM regions
Summary
In western developed countries, brain tumors represent between 1.4% and 2% of all neoplasms [1]. They represent a small proportion of all cancers, they are usually aggressive and both their mortality and their morbidity are high [1,2]. Despite worldwide efforts to standardize tumor evaluation criteria, the morphological classification of some human brain tumors is subject to interpretation. This uncertainty comes, among others, from the intra and inter-biopsy morphological heterogeneity of tumor tissue. Potential regions of interest inside the tissue or preferred orientation for histopathology slices are difficult to determine before processing the sample
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