Open AccessCombined Ex Vivo 9.4 T MRI and Quantitative Histopathological Study in Normal and Pathological Neocortical Resections in Focal Epilepsy
Author(s) -
Reeves Cheryl,
Tachrount Mohamed,
Thomas David,
Michalak Zuzanna,
Liu Joan,
Ellis Matthew,
Diehl Beate,
Miserocchi Anna,
McEvoy Andrew W.,
Eriksson Sofia,
Yousry Tarek,
Thom Maria
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
brain pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.986
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1750-3639
pISSN - 1015-6305
DOI - 10.1111/bpa.12298
Subject(s) - white matter , cortical dysplasia , pathology , magnetic resonance imaging , ex vivo , cortex (anatomy) , myelin basic protein , medicine , myelin , biology , neuroscience , in vivo , central nervous system , radiology , microbiology and biotechnology
High‐resolution magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ) may improve the preoperative diagnosis of focal cortical dysplasia ( FCD ) in epilepsy. Quantitative 9.4 T MRI was carried out ( T 1, T 2, T 2* and magnetization transfer ratio) on 13 cortical resections, representing pathologically confirmed FCD (five cases) and normal cortex. Quantitative immunohistochemistry for myelination (myelin basic protein/ SMI 94), neuronal populations [microtubule‐associated protein 2 ( MAP 2), neurofilament ( SMI 31, SMI 32), synaptophysin, NeuN , calbindin], reactive glia ( GFAP ), microglia ( CD 68) and blood–brain barrier permeability (albumin) was carried out in 43 regions of interest ( ROI ) from normal and abnormal white matter and cortex. MRI was spatially aligned and quantitative analysis carried out on corresponding ROI . Line profile analysis ( LPA ) of intensity gradients through the cortex was carried out on MRI and immunostained sections. An inverse correlation was noted between myelin/ SMI 94 and T 1, T 2 ( P < 0.005) and T 2* ( P < 0.05; Spearman's correlation) and a positive correlation between neuronal MAP 2 and T 1 ( P < 0.005) and T 2* ( P < 0.05) over all ROI . Similar pathology– MRI correlations were observed for histologically unremarkable white matter ROI only. LPA showed altered gradient contours in regions of FCD , reflecting abnormal cortical lamination and myelo‐architecture, including a preoperatively undetected FCD case. This study demonstrates the ability of quantitative 9.4 T MRI to detect subtle differences in neuronal numbers and myelination in histologically normal appearing white matter and LPA in the evaluation of cortical dyslamination. These methods may be translatable to the in vivo detection of mild cortical malformations.