title: A simple method to improve the quality of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging with rapid histologic correlation in a murine model.
abstract: Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) has been used extensively in biomedical research. However, this technique has often suffered from distortion artifacts because of the magnetic field inhomogeneity surrounding the tissues. Histology is important for validating MRI interpretations, but correlating MRIs with tissue samples is challenging. Here we propose a method to improve DW-MRI and facilitate the matching between MRIs and tissue samples. A cryostat embedding medium, optimal cutting temperature (OCT) compound, was used to cover the examined target during the MRI studies. Frozen OCT compound could aid the examined target to be sectioned in parallel with the imaging plane. Phantom experiments demonstrated that embedding in OCT compound improved the magnetic field inhomogeneity while maintaining the apparent diffusion coefficient. Animal experiments revealed significantly reduced distortions in DW images in both the axial and coronal planes. The in vivo MRIs were easily matched with histologic specimens in a slice-to-slice fashion to examine the corresponding tissue microenvironment. This simple method might improve the quality of DW-MRI and provide histologic information for MRI to serve as an image biomarker.
authors.forename: Yu-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chun-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Gigin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yi-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yau-Yau
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Wai
authors.forename: Shu-Hang
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Hsiang-Yang
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Hsin-Hsin
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: Jiun-Jie
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D016591:Histocytological Preparation Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*