High-resolution mid-infrared imaging for disease diagnosis

Histopathology is the gold standard for disease diagnosis; however it is subject to a number of limitations. Fourier Transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic imaging can be used to derive chemical images from tissues based on their inherent molecular composition, thereby eliminating the use of dyes and stains. FT-IR imaging represents a novel, emerging approach that can allow for accurate cell type identification which is competitive with conventional histopathological approaches and may alleviate a number of the limitations associated with current techniques. Traditionally, this approach has involved in a loss of image detail due to the sub-optimal and, compared to optical microscopy, coarse pixel size in instruments. Recent advances in high-resolution FT-IR imaging have allowed for the identification and chemical characterization of cell types and tissue structures which were previously not discernible. Here we report on the visualization of several histologic details using high-resolution IR imaging that may be critical for tissue histology and disease diagnosis.