This study presents the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) directly on the tissue of two ovarian tumors that often present a diagnostic challenge, a low-grade serous borderline ovarian tumor and ovarian fibrothecoma. Different spatial distribution of m/z values within the tissue samples was observed, and regiospecific peaks were identified. Among the 106 peaks in the borderline ovarian tumor five, regiospecific peaks (m/z: 2861.35; 2775.79; 3368.34; 3438.43; 4936.37) were selected using FlexImaging software. Subsequently, the distribution of those selected peaks was visualized on the fibrothecoma tissue section, which demonstrated the differences in the tissue homo-/heterogeneous structure of both tumors. The comparison with the histopathological staining of the ovarian borderline tumor tissue section, obtained during serial sectioning, showed a close correlation of the molecular map with the morphological and histopathological features of the tissue and allowed the identification of different tissue types within the sample. This study highlights the potential significance of MSI in enabling morphological characterization of ovarian tumors as well as correct diagnosis and further prognosis than thus far seen in the literature. Osteopontin, tropomyosin and orosomucoid are only a couple of the molecules investigated using MALDI-MSI in ovarian cancer research. This study, in line with the available literature, proves the potential of MALDI-MSI to overcome the current limitations of classic histopathological examination giving a more in-depth insight into the tissue structure and thus lead to the more accurate differential diagnosis of ovarian tumors, especially in the most challenging cases.

中文翻译：

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MALDI-MSI-克服卵巢肿瘤诊断挑战的一步

这项研究提出了直接在两种经常表现出诊断挑战的卵巢肿瘤，低度浆液性交界性卵巢肿瘤和卵巢纤维瘤等两个卵巢肿瘤的组织上使用基质辅助激光解吸和电离质谱成像（MALDI-MSI）。观察到组织样品内m / z值的不同空间分布，并鉴定了区域特异性峰。在边缘性卵巢肿瘤的106个峰中，有五个，使用FlexImaging软件选择了区域特异性峰（m / z：2861.35； 2775.79； 3368.34； 3438.43； 4936.37）。随后，在纤维瘤组织切片上观察到了这些选定峰的分布，这表明了两种肿瘤在组织均相/异质结构上的差异。与在连续切片过程中获得的卵巢交界性肿瘤组织切片的组织病理学染色的比较显示，分子图谱与组织的形态学和组织病理学特征密切相关，并允许鉴定样品中的不同组织类型。这项研究突出了MSI在实现卵巢肿瘤的形态学表征以及正确诊断和进一步预后方面的潜在意义，远比文献中所见。骨桥蛋白，原肌球蛋白和类类骨质激素仅是在卵巢癌研究中使用MALDI-MSI研究的分子中的几个。根据现有文献，这项研究