Interfacing MRI and pathology is critically important to understand the pathological basis of MRI signal changes in vivo and for clinicopathological correlation. Postmortem MRI is an intermediate step in this process, but unfortunately relating the data to standard pathological sections, which are relatively thick and often non-parallel, is both time-consuming and insufficiently accurate.

The aim of this project is to develop technology to integrate postmortem, high-resolution, whole-brain MRI into the planning and execution of the pathological analysis through precise localization of the target and coordinates of cut.

Compared to standard pathological sectioning, the use of an individualized, 3D-printed cutting-box, designed based on postmortem MRI of formalin-fixed whole brains, improved the speed, quality, and accuracy of radiological-pathological correlation, and specifically the histopathological localization of imaging findings. The technology described herein is easily implemented, applicable to any brain disorder, and potentially extendable to other organs. From the point of view of the pathologist, this technique can improve localization of small or subtle abnormalities, whereas from the point of view of the radiologist, it has the potential to improve understanding of MRI signal changes observed in disease.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25007244