Correlation of breast tissue histology and optical signatures to improve margin assessment techniques.
Optical spectroscopy is sensitive to morphological composition and has potential applications in intraoperative margin assessment. Here, we evaluate ex vivo breast tissue and corresponding quantified hematoxylin & eosin images to correlate optical scattering signatures to tissue composition stratified by patient characteristics. Adipose sites (213) were characterized by their cell area and density. All other benign and malignant sites (181) were quantified using a grid method to determine composition. The relationships between mean reduced scattering coefficient (〈μs′〉), and % adipose, % collagen, % glands, adipocyte cell area, and adipocyte density were investigated. These relationships were further stratified by age, menopausal status, body mass index (BMI), and breast density. We identified a positive correlation between 〈μs′〉 and % collagen and a negative correlation between 〈μs′〉 and age and BMI. Increased collagen corresponded to increased 〈μs′〉 variability. In postmenopausal women, 〈μs′〉 was similar regardless of fibroglandular content. Contributions from collagen and glands to 〈μs′〉 were independent and equivalent in benign sites; glands showed a stronger positive correlation than collagen to 〈μs′〉 in malignant sites. Our data suggest that scattering could differentiate highly scattering malignant from benign tissues in postmenopausal women. The relationship between scattering and tissue composition will support improved scattering models and technologies to enhance intraoperative optical margin assessment.
Duke University, TOpS Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 136 Hudson Hall, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States.
Stephanie
S
Kennedy
Duke University, TOpS Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 136 Hudson Hall, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States.
Matthew
M
Caldwell
Duke University, TOpS Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 136 Hudson Hall, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States.
Torre
T
Bydlon
Duke University, TOpS Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 136 Hudson Hall, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States.
Christine
C
Mulvey
Duke University, TOpS Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 136 Hudson Hall, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States.
Jenna
J
Mueller
University of Wisconsin Breast Center, Department of Surgery, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison WI 53792, United States.
Lee
L
Wilke
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, 450 Brookline Avenue, CLS11007, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States.
William
W
Barry
Duke University, TOpS Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, 136 Hudson Hall, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States.
Nimmi
N
Ramanujam
Duke University Medical Center, Department of Pathology, DUMC3712, 200 Trent Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States.
Joseph
J
Geradts
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D017698:Postmenopause; D013057:Spectrum Analysis