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Digistain: a digital staining instrument for histopathology
Hemmel Amrania1, Giuseppe Antonacci, Che-Hung Chan
1Experimental Solid State Group, Physics Dept., Imperial College, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
Optics Express
|March 29, 2012
Summary
A new mid-infrared (mid-IR) imaging technique, "digistain," provides rapid, quantitative chemical maps of tissue. This method aids in cancer diagnosis by accurately measuring the nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio, a key malignancy marker.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Optics
- Spectroscopy
- Histopathology
Background:
- Standard H + E staining is a cornerstone of histopathology.
- Quantitative analysis of tissue components can improve diagnostic accuracy.
- Existing imaging methods may lack speed or specificity for routine clinical use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel mid-infrared (mid-IR) imaging method.
- To augment the standard H + E tissue staining protocol.
- To provide a rapid and quantitative assessment of malignancy markers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized bespoke IR filters for mid-IR imaging of unstained oesophageal tissue.
- Generated chemical maps based on cytoplasmic (amide) and nuclear (phosphodiester) components.
- Developed a calibrated combination for false-colour imaging and quantitative analysis.
Main Results:
- Successfully reproduced tissue morphology and accurate nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratios.
- Demonstrated quantitative distributions of this malignancy marker.
- Achieved image acquisition and interpretation in seconds by trained personnel.
Conclusions:
- The "digistain" approach offers a practical, specific, and sensitive augmentation to clinical cancer diagnosis.
- Spectroscopic mid-IR imaging is now a viable tool for routine clinical application.
- This method enhances diagnostic capabilities by providing objective, quantitative data.
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