Journal of Cytology & Histology

3D Imaging of Fine Needle Aspirates Using Optical Projection Tomographic Microscopy

Abstract

Kenny F Chou, Qin Miao, Ryan L Coe and Eric J Seibel

Conventional Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB) requires minimal tissue sampling and causes minor tissue trauma. For these reasons, it is widely used to diagnose many types of cancers. However, the utility of FNA is limited, due to the lack of sensitivity and loss of structural information. This preliminary study introduces a new type of Three- Dimensional (3D) cytological imaging, Optical Projection Tomographic Microscopy (OPTM) that has the potential to reduce errors in FNAB analysis. We first demonstrate the functionality of OPTM, a microscopic imaging method that produces high resolution 3D images of single cell specimens in absorption mode, to perform multi-cellular imaging of cells stained with hematoxylin. Then, we use OPTM to image entire FNAB-like specimens in their three-dimensional form without experiencing errors from overlapping cells, choice of focal plane, and sampling. Our methods show success in generating volumetric data of large density of cells inside a cylindrical tube representative of FNA specimen within a 23-gauge needle. This 3D imaging technique may be applied to thin core needlebiopsyspecimens in the future, which may allow the preservation of tissue microstructure in FNAB specimens.