Abstract

Background

To develop patient-specific 3T MRI data based rapid prototyping molds for sectioning prostatectomy specimens that would facilitate comparison between histopathology, in vivo MRI and Shear Wave Elastography (SWE).

Method

Post-radical prostatectomy specimens were fixed in formalin and sectioned in similar orientation to T2-weighted MR scanning. This was facilitated by the use of mold prepared in biomedical software Mimics (Materialise, Belgium) and CAD software Solidworkds (Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks Corp., USA) through 3-D segmentation, reconstruction and rapid prototyping. The specimens were sliced with a single blade and the resultant MRI images defined tissue blocks were used for histopathology analysis. The multi-parametric MRI data, SWE and histological sectioning were compared to assess prostate cancer characteristics.

Results

The prostatectomy specimen slices were very uniform in thickness with good quality histological sectioning. A number of cancer foci were picked up with some of them significant disease (Gleason grade 7 and more). Multiparametric MRI (mp-MRI), quantitative SWE data as measured in kilopascals and histopathology comparison showed good correspondence between the three images.

Conclusion

The method described here allows a reliable orientation and comparison between imaging (mp-MRI, SWE) and histology of prostatectomy specimens and paves the way for the translation of imaging biomarkers, especially detection of significant cancers.