Eberspächer-Schweda Matthias C, Schmitt Kira, Handschuh Stephan, Fuchs-Baumgartinger Andrea, Reiter Alexander M
Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service, Clinic of Small Animal Surgery, Department of Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
VetCore Facility for Research Imaging Unit, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
J Vet Dent. 2020 Mar;37(1):14-21. doi: 10.1177/0898756420926519. Epub 2020 Jun 2.
Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging currently gains increased interest in human as well as veterinary medicine. The ability to image 3-dimensional (3D) biopsy specimens nondestructively down to 1 µm spatial resolution makes it a promising tool for microscopic tissue evaluation in addition to histopathology. Visualizing tumor margins and calculating tumor load on 3D reconstructions may also enhance oncological therapies. The objective of this study was to describe the workflow from tumor resection to histopathological diagnosis, using both routine hematoxylin-eosin (HE)-stained sections and micro-CT tomograms on a stage II oral fibrosarcoma in a 7-year-old Hovawart dog. The maxillectomy specimen was fixed with formalin and stained with an X-ray dense soft tissue contrast agent. Micro-CT imaging was done using an ex vivo specimen micro-CT device. Tumor margins could not be exactly determined on micro-CT tomograms due to limited image resolution and contrast. Histopathology was performed after washing out the contrast agent. It showed neoplastic cells infiltrating the surrounding tissue further than assumed from micro-CT images. A total tumor volume of 10.3 cm could be calculated based on correlating micro-CT tomograms with HE-stained sections. This correlative approach may be of particular interest for oncological therapy. More than that, micro-CT imaging technology supported histopathology by means of 3D orientation and selection of slices to be cut on determining tumor margins. In this clinical case report, micro-CT imaging did not provide unambiguous clinical evidence for oncological decision-making, but it showed potential to support histopathology and calculate tumor volume for further clinical use.
微计算机断层扫描（micro-CT）成像目前在人类医学和兽医学领域都越来越受到关注。其能够以低至1微米的空间分辨率对三维（3D）活检标本进行无损成像，这使其成为除组织病理学之外用于微观组织评估的一种有前景的工具。在3D重建上可视化肿瘤边缘并计算肿瘤负荷也可能会改善肿瘤治疗。本研究的目的是描述一只7岁霍瓦特犬的II期口腔纤维肉瘤从肿瘤切除到组织病理学诊断的工作流程，同时使用常规苏木精-伊红（HE）染色切片和micro-CT断层扫描。上颌骨切除标本用福尔马林固定，并用一种X射线高密度软组织造影剂染色。使用离体标本micro-CT设备进行micro-CT成像。由于图像分辨率和对比度有限，在micro-CT断层扫描上无法准确确定肿瘤边缘。在冲洗掉造影剂后进行组织病理学检查。结果显示肿瘤细胞浸润周围组织的范围比micro-CT图像显示的更广。通过将micro-CT断层扫描与HE染色切片相关联，可以计算出肿瘤总体积为10.3立方厘米。这种相关方法可能对肿瘤治疗特别有意义。不仅如此，micro-CT成像技术通过3D定位和在确定肿瘤边缘时选择要切割的切片来支持组织病理学。在这个临床病例报告中，micro-CT成像没有为肿瘤学决策提供明确的临床证据，但它显示出支持组织病理学和计算肿瘤体积以供进一步临床应用的潜力。
