3D Pathology Volumetric Technique: A Method for Calculating Breast Tumour Volume from Whole-Mount Serial Section Images

Tumour size, most commonly measured by maximum linear extent, remains a strong predictor of survival in breast cancer. Tumour volume, proportional to the number of tumour cells, may be a more accurate surrogate for size. We describe a novel “3D pathology volumetric technique” for lumpectomies and c...

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Main Authors: G. M. Clarke, M. Murray, C. M. B. Holloway, K. Liu, J. T. Zubovits, M. J. Yaffe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:International Journal of Breast Cancer
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/691205
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author G. M. Clarke
M. Murray
C. M. B. Holloway
K. Liu
J. T. Zubovits
M. J. Yaffe
author_facet G. M. Clarke
M. Murray
C. M. B. Holloway
K. Liu
J. T. Zubovits
M. J. Yaffe
author_sort G. M. Clarke
collection DOAJ
description Tumour size, most commonly measured by maximum linear extent, remains a strong predictor of survival in breast cancer. Tumour volume, proportional to the number of tumour cells, may be a more accurate surrogate for size. We describe a novel “3D pathology volumetric technique” for lumpectomies and compare it with 2D measurements. Volume renderings and total tumour volume are computed from digitized whole-mount serial sections using custom software tools. Results are presented for two lumpectomy specimens selected for tumour features which may challenge accurate measurement of tumour burden with conventional, sampling-based pathology: (1) an infiltrative pattern admixed with normal breast elements; (2) a localized invasive mass separated from the in situ component by benign tissue. Spatial relationships between key features (tumour foci, close or involved margins) are clearly visualized in volume renderings. Invasive tumour burden can be underestimated using conventional pathology, compared to the volumetric technique (infiltrative pattern: 30% underestimation; localized mass: 3% underestimation for invasive tumour, 44% for in situ component). Tumour volume approximated from 2D measurements (i.e., maximum linear extent), assuming elliptical geometry, was seen to overestimate volume compared to the 3D volumetric calculation (by a factor of 7x for the infiltrative pattern; 1.5x for the localized invasive mass).
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publishDate 2012-01-01
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series International Journal of Breast Cancer
spelling doaj-art-53cabe95323b40a8b369f831e38bfdc22025-08-20T03:36:22ZengWileyInternational Journal of Breast Cancer2090-31702090-31892012-01-01201210.1155/2012/6912056912053D Pathology Volumetric Technique: A Method for Calculating Breast Tumour Volume from Whole-Mount Serial Section ImagesG. M. Clarke0M. Murray1C. M. B. Holloway2K. Liu3J. T. Zubovits4M. J. Yaffe5Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Room C7-27c, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, CanadaPhysical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Room C7-48a, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, CanadaDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, ON, M5S 7A8, CanadaPhysical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Room C7-27a, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, CanadaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, ON, M5S 7A8, CanadaDepartments of Medical Biophysics and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, ON, M5S 7A8, CanadaTumour size, most commonly measured by maximum linear extent, remains a strong predictor of survival in breast cancer. Tumour volume, proportional to the number of tumour cells, may be a more accurate surrogate for size. We describe a novel “3D pathology volumetric technique” for lumpectomies and compare it with 2D measurements. Volume renderings and total tumour volume are computed from digitized whole-mount serial sections using custom software tools. Results are presented for two lumpectomy specimens selected for tumour features which may challenge accurate measurement of tumour burden with conventional, sampling-based pathology: (1) an infiltrative pattern admixed with normal breast elements; (2) a localized invasive mass separated from the in situ component by benign tissue. Spatial relationships between key features (tumour foci, close or involved margins) are clearly visualized in volume renderings. Invasive tumour burden can be underestimated using conventional pathology, compared to the volumetric technique (infiltrative pattern: 30% underestimation; localized mass: 3% underestimation for invasive tumour, 44% for in situ component). Tumour volume approximated from 2D measurements (i.e., maximum linear extent), assuming elliptical geometry, was seen to overestimate volume compared to the 3D volumetric calculation (by a factor of 7x for the infiltrative pattern; 1.5x for the localized invasive mass).http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/691205
spellingShingle G. M. Clarke
M. Murray
C. M. B. Holloway
K. Liu
J. T. Zubovits
M. J. Yaffe
3D Pathology Volumetric Technique: A Method for Calculating Breast Tumour Volume from Whole-Mount Serial Section Images
International Journal of Breast Cancer
title 3D Pathology Volumetric Technique: A Method for Calculating Breast Tumour Volume from Whole-Mount Serial Section Images
title_full 3D Pathology Volumetric Technique: A Method for Calculating Breast Tumour Volume from Whole-Mount Serial Section Images
title_fullStr 3D Pathology Volumetric Technique: A Method for Calculating Breast Tumour Volume from Whole-Mount Serial Section Images
title_full_unstemmed 3D Pathology Volumetric Technique: A Method for Calculating Breast Tumour Volume from Whole-Mount Serial Section Images
title_short 3D Pathology Volumetric Technique: A Method for Calculating Breast Tumour Volume from Whole-Mount Serial Section Images
title_sort 3d pathology volumetric technique a method for calculating breast tumour volume from whole mount serial section images
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/691205
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