MRI artifacts in human brain tissue after prolonged formalin storage.

Author(s): van Duijn S, Nabuurs RJ, van Rooden S, Maat-Schieman ML, van Duinen SG, van Buchem MA, van der Weerd L, Natté R

Publication: Magn Reson Med, 2011, Vol. 65, Page 1750-8

PubMed ID: 21305598 PubMed Review Paper? No

Purpose of Paper

Conclusion of Paper

Studies

1. Study Purpose

   The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of extended fixation on the microscopic and macroscopic appearance of brain specimens.

   Summary of Findings:

   Storage of fixed brain tissue for 6 years or more, in sealed plastic bags, with a small excess of formalin, which was not changed for the duration of storage, resulted in granular neuropil artifacts with a white discoloration and coarse magnetic resonance hypointensities. These artifacts were found to be unrelated to the neurological diseases or ages of patients included in the study. The artifacts increased with the duration of fixation. Tissue fixed in the same formalin solution for 1 year or less did not result in these artifacts. The authors suggest that over time, the acidification of the formalin in which the brain tissue was stored may be a contributing factor to these artifacts. Fixation times between 1 and 6 years were not included in the study.

   Biospecimens

   • Tissue - Brain

   Preservative Types

   • Formalin

   Diagnoses:

   • Normal
   • Other diagnoses
   • Down Syndrome
   • Alzheimer's Disease
   • Autopsy

   Platform:

   Analyte	Technology Platform
   Morphology	Electron microscopy
   Morphology	H-and-E microscopy
   Morphology	Light microscopy
   Protein	Immunohistochemistry

   Pre-analytical Factors:

   Classification	Pre-analytical Factor	Value(s)
   Biospecimen Preservation	Time in fixative	4 months 6 months 1 y 6 y 7 y 9 y 15 y 16 y 17 y 19 y 26 y 42 y
   Preaquisition	Diagnosis/ patient condition	Hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloid Dutch type Sporadic cerebral amyloid angiopathy
   Immunohistochemistry Specific	Targeted peptide/protein	Amyloid-beta Glial fibrillary acidic protein
   Preaquisition	Postmortem interval	Unspecified 1 h 2 h 6 h 9 h 13 h 14 h 21 h 48 h
   Preaquisition	Patient age	29-90 y

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