Micro-computed tomography whole-block imaging reveals origin and path of rectal cancer tumor deposits: A pilot study Journal Article


Authors: Firat, C.; Urganci, N.; Teplov, A.; Cesmecioglu, E.; Bakoglu, N.; Vakiani, E.; Ntiamoah, P.; Weiser, M. R.; Garcia-Aguilar, J.; Hameed, M.; Yagi, Y.; Shia, J.
Article Title: Micro-computed tomography whole-block imaging reveals origin and path of rectal cancer tumor deposits: A pilot study
Abstract: In colorectal carcinoma (CRC), tumor deposits (TDs) are described as macroscopic/microscopic nests/nodules in the lymph drainage area discontinuous with the primary mass, without identifiable lymph node (LN) tissue, and not confined to vascular or perineural spaces. A TD is categorized as pN1C only when no bona fide LN metastasis exists. However, there has been an ongoing debate on whether TDs should be counted as LNs. The fact that the origin of TDs is not fully understood adds further uncertainty. This pilot study aims to evaluate whether whole-block imaging by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT WBI) that enables three-dimensional reconstruction of whole-mount (WM) blocks can serve as a tool to assess the origin and path of CRC TDs. We evaluated whole-slide imaging (WSI) and micro-CT WBI of 20 WM blocks from a rectal cancer resection that contained TDs. Each TD was tracked through the contiguous blocks to define their origin and path. Of eleven TDs identified on WSI, six were detected on WBI. Strikingly, six of six TDs trackable through the blocks on WBI revealed an origin from the main tumor. This pilot study provided evidence that micro-CT WBI can serve as an effective tool to evaluate the origin and path of CRC TDs. © 2024 by the authors.
Keywords: clinical article; controlled study; human tissue; cancer surgery; primary tumor; neoadjuvant therapy; histology; colorectal carcinoma; pilot study; lymph node; micro-computed tomography; lymphatic drainage; rectum cancer; adipose tissue; rectal cancer; surgical margin; rectal adenocarcinoma; three-dimensional imaging; human; male; female; article; tumor deposit; micro-ct; three-dimensional images; whole-block imaging; micro computed tomography whole block imaging
Journal Title: Diagnostics
Volume: 14
Issue: 16
ISSN: 2075-4418
Publisher: MDPI  
Date Published: 2024-08-02
Start Page: 1704
Language: English
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14161704
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC11353868
PUBMED: 39202192
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- MSK Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) acknowledged in PubMed and PDF -- MSK corresponding authors are Yukako Yagi and Jinru Shia -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Meera Hameed
    281 Hameed
  2. Jinru Shia
    715 Shia
  3. Martin R Weiser
    532 Weiser
  4. Efsevia Vakiani
    261 Vakiani
  5. Alexei Teplov
    35 Teplov
  6. Yukako Yagi
    74 Yagi
  7. Canan Firat
    40 Firat
  8. Nilay Bakoglu
    10 Bakoglu
  9. Nil Urganci
    12 Urganci