Imaging of renal and prostate carcinoma with refractive index radiology.
OBJECTIVE
Having better edge enhancement and penetrating power, refractive index radiology is suitable for the imaging of weakly absorbing objects such as tissue specimens. In this study the potential of refractive index radiology was evaluated for the imaging of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and prostate cancer (PCA).


METHODS
Specimens were cut in 3 mm and 4 microm thickness for X-ray radiology and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, respectively. Radiographic images of RCC and PCA were obtained using the synchrotron hard X-rays from the 7B2 beam-line of the Pohang Light Source (PLS). The imaging technique applied was phase-contrast radiology based on the refraction enhancement mechanism. The resulting radiographic images were analyzed in correlation with those of optical microscopy.


RESULTS
Using unmonochromatized hard X-rays, it was possible to obtain images with clear edge enhancement and relatively large field of view (6 cm x 6 cm). Even with overlapping signals from thick samples (more than 700-fold thicker than microscopic images), radiographic images clearly showed histological information of organelles in normal kidney such as glomeruli, tubules, and collecting ducts. Histological information of RCC including tumor subtypes and minute changes such as cystic degeneration could be identified without difficulty. The radiographic images of the prostate were comparable with those of low magnification optical microscopy, providing good visualization of normal microstructures such as adenoma, smooth muscle, and normal glands, or differentiation of tiny tumors from surrounding normal tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest the potential of refractive index radiology to provide a new way of imaging biological tissues with low absorption contrast such as RCC and PCA.
Yoon
Cheol Yong
CY
Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
Sung
Duck Je
DJ
Lee
Ju Han
JH
Kim
Ae Ri
AR
Oh
Chil Whan
CW
Je
Jung Ho
JH
Weon
Byung Mook
BM
Seol
Seung Kwon
SK
Pyun
Aram
A
Hwu
Yeukuang
Y
Margaritondo
Giorgio
G
Joo
Kwan Joong
KJ
Yoon
Duck Ki
DK
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011859:Radiography