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 WB

SUBMITTER: Firat C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11353868 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature