Characterization of ex vivo healthy human axillary lymph nodes with high resolution 7 Tesla MRI.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize ex vivo healthy human axillary lymph nodes on 7 Tesla MRI and to correlate the findings with pathological analysis as a first step towards non-invasive staging of breast cancer patients in the future.


METHODS
Four axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) specimens from 2 autopsy patients, who had no cancer, were examined on a clinical 7 Tesla MRI system. For morphological analysis a 3D T1-weighted fat-suppressed fast-field-echo [isotropic resolution 180 μm] was acquired. For quantitative analyses 2D T1-, 3D T2-, T2*- and diffusion-weighted images were acquired. The ALNDs were mapped and stained for precise correlation of MRI to pathology. Nodes were sliced in 3 μm sections, Haematoxylin & Eosin stained, and examined by an experienced pathologist.


RESULTS
MRI detected all 45 nodes and 6 additional nodes that were not detected at pathological analysis. B-cell follicles, efferent- and afferent lymph vessels and blood vessels were identified. Mean T1, T2, T2*, ADC values (± standard deviation) were 944 ± 113 ms, 32 ± 2 ms, 16 ± 2 ms, 0.39 ± 0.09·10⁻³ mm²/s, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
7 Tesla MRI of ex vivo human axillary lymph nodes correlated well with pathology. MRI detected all nodes present in the specimens and allowed visualization of fine structural detail. Pathology-correlated quantitative MRI data are presented.
Korteweg
M A
MA
Department of Radiology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. mieskorteweg@gmail.com
Zwanenburg
J J M
JJ
van Diest
P J
PJ
van den Bosch
M A A J
MA
Luijten
P R
PR
van Hillegersberg
R
R
Mali
W P Th M
WP
Veldhuis
W B
WB
D001365:Axilla; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity