X-ray diffraction-enhanced imaging of uterine leiomyomas

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the microstructures of a uterine leiomyoma using a synchrotron-based imaging technique. Material/Methods: The tissues of different regions of a uterine leiomyoma were imaged using X-ray diffraction-enhanced imaging. Results: Compared with optical microscopy and conventional X-ray, X-ray diffraction-enhanced imaging can show not only the surface, but also the internal structure of organs or soft tissues with better contrast. Internal hyaline degeneration and the cavum of liquefied uterine leiomyomas are shown very clearly. Some microstructures, such as the myomatous burble, rupture and conglomeration of muscle fiber, and the cavum resulting from red degeneration, can be displayed in X-ray diffraction-enhanced images. These microstructures can show the developmental progress of necrosis in uterine leiomyomas and indicate their potential canceration. Conclusions: X-ray diffraction-enhanced imaging can clearly show internal microstructures of uterine leiomyomas, making the complex procedure of doing this with a large number of pathology slices avoidable.