Synchrotron phase contrast micro-CT of prostate tissue

<jats:p>Formalin-fixed prostate tissue samples were imaged by propagation-based synchrotron phase contrast micro computed tomography (μCT) with a 3D spatial resolution of ca. 3 μm. Post-μCT, samples were prepared for histology with sections close to coplanar with the transverse μCT image planes. Haematoxylin and eosin stained sections were examined by an expert prostate histopathologist and compared qualitatively with corresponding μCT-visible microstructure features. There is potential for μCT to provide complimentary information to conventional histology and light microscopy without the need for preparation of stained thin sections. For the imaging conditions and spatial resolution of our study, μCT may provide tissue architectural features similar to those used in Gleason grading, albeit without clear subcellular microstructure detail. At the spatial resolution of our study μCT may provide novel 3D microstructure information for validation of diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods. As an example, we demonstrate a qualitative correlation between μCT-derived stromal fibre orientation and preferential water diffusion direction measured by diffusion tensor MRI microscopy of the same sample.</jats:p>