INFLUENCE OF TISSUE-PREPARATION ON THE HIGH-FREQUENCY ACOUSTIC PROPERTIES OF NORMAL KIDNEY TISSUE

The influence of various tissue preparations on the acoustic propertie s of normal kidney tissue at high frequencies was investigated. Eight surgically excised normal kidney tissue specimens were classified into three groups: (i) fresh, frozen section, (ii) formalin-fixed, frozen section and (iii) formalin-fixed, paraffin section. Scanning acoustic microscopy operating in the frequency range of 100-200 MHz was used to display the two-dimensional distribution of attenuation constant and sound speed. Our results indicate that (i) there is no significant var iation in both acoustic parameters between the three tissue groups, (i i) fixation by 10% formalin produces no significant change in the acou stic parameters, (iii) in fat-free tissue regions, the acoustic parame ters are independent of preparation method and (iv) frozen sections mu st be used to assess the acoustic parameters in fat-rich tissues. Copy right (C) 1996 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.