Novel Microscopy Technique Reveals Unseen Details in Brain Tumors

MIT and Harvard Researchers Discover Unexpected Aggressiveness in 'Low-Grade' Tumors

Researchers from MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School have developed a novel microscopy technique that provides unprecedented detail of human brain tissue.
The new imaging method, called decrowding expansion pathology (dExPath), is based on expansion microscopy and allows for the imaging of cells and structures previously invisible.
The technique revealed that some 'low-grade' brain tumors contain more aggressive tumor cells than expected, suggesting these tumors may be more dangerous than previously thought.
The researchers believe this technique could eventually be used to diagnose tumors, generate more accurate prognoses, and guide treatment decisions.
The team plans to conduct a larger study of tumor types to establish diagnostic guidelines based on the tumor traits that can be revealed using this technique.