Original Articles
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2000. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 15, 2000; 6(3): 344-347
Published online Jun 15, 2000. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v6.i3.344
Three-dimensional image of hepatocellular carcinoma under confocal laser scanning microscope
Wang-Hai Zhang, Shi-Neng Zhu, Shi-Lun Lu, Ya-Lin Huang, Peng Zhao
Wang-Hai Zhang, Division of Pathology, Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai 200032, China
Shi-Neng Zhu, Shi-Lun Lu, Department of Pathology, Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai 200032, China
Ya-Lin Huang, Peng Zhao, National Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai 200032, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Wang Hai Zhang, Division of Pathology, Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai 200032, China. whzhangzsh@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-21-64041990
Received: March 19, 2000
Revised: April 13, 2000
Accepted: April 28, 2000
Published online: June 15, 2000
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the application of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) in tumor pathology and three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction by CLSM in pathologic specimens of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS: The 30 μm thick sections were cut from the paraffin-embedded tissues of HCC, hyperplasia and normal liver, stained with DNA fluorescent probe YOYO-1 iodide and examined by CLSM to collect optical sections of nuclei and 3-D images reconstructed.

RESULTS: HCC displayed chaotic arrangement of carcinoma cell nuclei, marked pleomorphism, indented and irregular nuclear surface, and irregular and coarse chromatin texture.

CONCLUSION: The serial optical tomograms of CLSM can be used to create 3-D reconstruction of cancer cell nuclei. Such 3-D impressions might be helpful or even essential in making an accurate diagnosis.

Keywords: HCC; nucleus, three-dimensional reconstruction; microscopy, confocal laser scanning