Visualisation of calcifications and thin collagen strands in human breast tumour specimens by the diffraction-enhanced imaging technique: a comparison with conventional mammography and histology.
Six excised human breast tissue specimens carrying benign and malignant tumours were examined with the diffraction-enhanced imaging technique. Diffraction-enhanced images were compared with diagnostic screen-film mammograms and the correlation with histological information of the specimens was established. The enhanced visibility of calcifications, some of which were smaller than 0.15 mm in diameter, is reported in detail. Fine details of the structures such as strands of collagen and contours between glandular and adipose tissue, which are barely visible at the contrast detection limit in the conventional absorption-based mammograms, are clearly visible in the diffraction-enhanced images. Microscopic study of the stained histopathological sections unequivocally confirms the correlation of the radiographic findings with the morphologic changes in specimens. An increased soft tissue contrast and a combination of information obtained with disparate diffraction-enhanced images provide better visibility of mammographically indistinguishable features. This kind of additional structural information of the breast tissue is required to improve assessment accuracy and earlier detection of the breast lesions. These advances in image quality make the method a very promising candidate for mammography.
Keyriläinen
Jani
J
Department of Physical Sciences, University of Helsinki, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland. jani.keyrilainen@helsinki.fi
Fernández
Manuel
M
Fiedler
Stefan
S
Bravin
Alberto
A
Karjalainen-Lindsberg
Marja-Liisa
ML
Virkkunen
Pekka
P
Elo
Eva-Maria
EM
Tenhunen
Mikko
M
Suortti
Pekka
P
Thomlinson
William
W
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003094:Collagen; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008327:Mammography; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction / Q000379:methods*
D003094:Collagen