Tumor shrinkage associated with whole-mount histopathologic techniques in oral tongue carcinoma.
Shrinkage artifact of tumor tissue from histologic processing has not been rigorously quantified, particularly where the entire tumor is represented in a whole-mount specimen. Fourteen patients underwent partial-glossectomy for oral tongue carcinoma (OTC). Specimens were embedded into agar, cut into 3 mm blocks and photographed (macroscopic image), prior to histopathologic processing. Histology slides were digitized. Contours were made of tumor on both image sets and area plotted against block position. Volume estimates were mathematically derived based on these plots. The tumors shrank in volume by 20.2% (p=0.0006) on average; shrinkage by area ranged for all image pairs 0-48%. Tumor volume>median was significant in absolute shrinkage (p=0.002) but not percent shrinkage (p=0.42). Age, gender, and T stage were independent of shrinkage. This data shows whole-mount techniques produce shrinkage artifact in OTC that varies between tumors and blocks in the same tumor. In order to account for shrinkage, measurement must be performed case-by-case.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada M4N 3M5. Electronic address: Drew.Brotherston@sunnybrook.ca.
Drew
D
Brotherston
Department of Radiation Oncology, Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada M4N 3M5. Electronic address: Ian.Poon@sunnybrook.ca.
Ian
I
Poon
Department of Anatomic Pathology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada M4N 3M5. Electronic address: rpeerani@gmail.com.
Raheem
R
Peerani
Department of Pathology and Laboratories, North York General Hospital, 4001 Leslie St, Toronto, ON, Canada M2K 1E1. Electronic address: Simon.Raphael@nygh.on.ca.
Simon
S
Raphael
Department of Otolaryngology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada M4N 3M5. Electronic address: Kevin.higgins@sunnybrook.ca.
Kevin
K
Higgins
Department of Otolaryngology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada M4N 3M5. Electronic address: Danny.Enepekides@sunnybrook.ca.
Dan
D
Enepekides
Department of Radiation Oncology, Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada M4N 3M5. Electronic address: Justin.Lee@sunnybrook.ca.
Justin
J
Lee
Department of Otolaryngology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada M4N 3M5. Electronic address: Jean.Davidson@sunnybrook.ca.
Jean
J
Davidson
Department of Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada M4N 3M5. Electronic address: martin.yaffe@sri.utoronto.ca.
Martin
M
Yaffe
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016477:Artifacts; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*
Histology processing; Image co-registration; Oral tongue carcinoma; Shrinkage; Whole-mount histopathology