Rapid and label-free histological imaging of unprocessed surgical tissues via dark-field reflectance ultraviolet microscopy
Shiwei Ye, Junjie Zou, Chenming Huang, Xiang Feng, Zonghua Wen, Nannan Wang, Jia Yu, Yuezhi He, Peng Liu, Mei Xin, Hui Li, Lili Niu, Peng Gong, Wei Zheng
Abstract
Routine examination for intraoperative histopathologic assessment is lengthy and laborious. Here, we present the dark-field reflectance ultraviolet microscopy (DRUM) that enables label-free imaging of unprocessed and thick tissues with subcellular resolution and a high signal-to-background ratio. To the best of our knowledge, DRUM provides image results for pathological assessment with the shortest turnaround time (2-3 min in total from sample preparation to tissue imaging). We also proposed a virtual staining process to convert DRUM images into pseudo-colorized images and enhance the image familiarity of pathologists. By imaging various tissues, we found DRUM can resolve cell nuclei and some extranuclear features, which are comparable to standard H&E images. Furthermore, the essential diagnostic features of intraoperatively excised tumor tissues also can be revealed by DRUM, demonstrating its potential as an additional aid for intraoperative histopathology.