Abstract #14

by | Sep 19, 2022 | 2022 Abstracts

Abstract 14- 1100-1115
Category: Basic Science

At the end of the session,
participants will be able to:

  1. Understand the association between histopathology of the PCG and MRI texture features of the PLIC
  2. Understand the association between histopathology of the cSC and MRI texture features of the PLIC

COI Disclosure:

None to disclose

Presenter

Avyarthana Dey is a 4th PhD student in the Neuroscience program at the University of Alberta. Prior to this, they completed an MSc in
neuroscience from the University of Western Ontario and an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from India.

Authors

Avyarthana Dey1,2, Collin Luk2, Abdullah Ishaque1,2, Peter Seres3, Dennell Krebs2, Yee-Hong Yang4, Julia Keith5,6, Sumit Das1,7, Ekaterina Olkhov-Mitsel5, Sanjay Kalra1,2

  1. Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB
  2. Division of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB
  3. Peter S. Allen MRI Center, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB
  4. Faculty of Science – Computing Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB
  5. Laboratory Medicine and Molecular Diagnostics, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto ON
  6. Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto ON
  7. Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB

Target Audience:
Pathologists, Residents, Neurologists

CanMEDS:
Medical Expert (the integrating role), Communicator, Collaborator, Leader, Health Advocate, Scholar, Professional

MRI-Pathological correlations show differential patterns of ex vivo texture in ALS

Abstract

In vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has provided a reliable biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)1–4. However, lack of pathological specificity of these biomarkers impedes their integration in clinical investigations. To address this lack of specificity and establish their relationship with disease pathology, the aim of the current study was to examine the associations between ex vivo neuroimaging and histopathological features. We hypothesized that histopathology of the cervical spinal cord (cSC) and precentral gyrus (PCG) shows associations with texture of the posterior limb of internal capsule (PLIC).

Formalin-fixed brains of 13 ALS patients underwent excision of the PCG, PLIC, and cSC. T1-weighted MRI was performed for PCG and PLIC from which texture features – namely autocorrelation (autoc), energy (energ), inverse difference normalized (indnc) – were extracted. Quantitative histological assessments were performed using QuPath to assess the density of axons in the corticospinal tract on NF immunolabeling, and extent of macrophage infiltration of the corticospinal tract on CD68 immunolabeling in the cSC. Qualitative assessments were performed to assess superficial spongiosis and presence of TDP-43 inclusions in the PCG. Pearson’s-r correlational analysis was performed between texture and histological features. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

A negative correlation was observed between PLIC autoc and presence of TDP-43 inclusions (r = -0.652, p = 0.022) as well as superficial spongiosis (r = -0.585, p = 0.046) in the PCG. A positive correlation was observed between PLIC energ and CD68 density (r = 0.714, p = 0.009).  

The PCG and cSC demonstrate patterns of histopathological changes associated with PLIC texture features in ALS.