Sectioned and segmented images of the male whole body, female whole body, male head, and female pelvis from the Visible Korean

Lymph Node Stations of Pancreas Which Are Identified in Real Color Sectioned Images of a Cadaver With Pancreatic Cancer

BACKGROUND

In pancreatic cancer surgery, anatomical understanding of lymph node metastases is required. Distinguishing lymph nodes in computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is challenging for novice doctors and medical students because of their small size and similar color to surrounding tissues. This study aimed to enhance our understanding of the clinical anatomy of lymph node stations relevant to pancreatic cancer using newly sectioned images of a cadaver with true color and high resolution and their three-dimensional (3D) models.

METHODS

An 88-year-old female cadaver who died of pancreatic cancer was serially sectioned. Among the sectioned images of the whole body (0.05 mm-sized pixel, 48 bits color), images of the abdomen were selected, and examined to identify lymph nodes and nearby structures. 34 structures (9 in digestive system; 1 in urinary system; 2 in cardiovascular system; 22 in lymphatic system) were segmented on the sectioned images. Based on the sectioned and segmented images, volume and surface models were produced.

RESULTS

Among the known 28 lymph node stations, 21 stations were identified through location, size, and color of normal and abnormal structures in the sectioned images and 3D models. Two near the splenic artery could not be separated from the cancer tissue, and the remaining five were not clearly identified. In the surface models, the shape and location of lymph node stations could be confirmed with nearby structures.

CONCLUSION

The lymph node stations relevant to pancreatic cancer can be anatomically understood by using the sectioned images and 3D models which contain true color and high resolution.

The Adipose Organ Is a Unitary Structure in Mice and Humans

Obesity is the fifth leading cause of death worldwide. In mice and humans with obesity, the adipose organ undergoes remarkable morpho-functional alterations. The comprehension of the adipose organ function and organization is of paramount importance to understand its pathology and formulate future therapeutic strategies. In the present study, we performed anatomical dissections, magnetic resonance imaging, computed axial tomography and histological and immunohistochemical assessments of humans and mouse adipose tissues. We demonstrate that most of the two types of adipose tissues (white, WAT and brown, BAT) form a large unitary structure fulfilling all the requirements necessary to be considered as a true organ in both species. A detailed analysis of the gross anatomy of mouse adipose organs in different pathophysiological conditions (normal, cold, pregnancy, obesity) shows that the organ consists of a unitary structure composed of different tissues: WAT, BAT, and glands (pregnancy). Data from autoptic dissection of 8 cadavers, 2 females and 6 males (Age: 37.5 ± 9.7, BMI: 23 ± 2.7 kg/m²) and from detailed digital dissection of 4 digitalized cadavers, 2 females and 2 males (Age: 39 ± 14.2 years, BMI: 22.8 ± 4.3 kg/m²) confirmed the mixed (WAT and BAT) composition and the unitary structure of the adipose organ also in humans. Considering the remarkable endocrine roles of WAT and BAT, the definition of the endocrine adipose organ would be even more appropriate in mice and humans.