Recent advances in the use of stimulated Raman scattering in histopathology

Stimulated Raman histopathology (SRH) utilises the intrinsic vibrational properties of lipids, proteins and nucleic acids to generate contrast providing rapid image acquisition that allows visualisation of histopathological features. It is currently being trialled in the intraoperative setting, where the ability to image unprocessed samples rapidly and with high resolution offers several potential advantages over the use of conventional haematoxylin and eosin stained images. Here we review recent advances in the field including new updates in instrumentation and computer aided diagnosis. We also discuss how other non-linear modalities can be used to provide additional diagnostic contrast which together pave the way for enhanced histopathology and open up possibilities for in vivo pathology.

Automated summary

Stimulated Raman histopathology (SRH) utilizes the intrinsic vibrational properties of lipids, proteins and nucleic acids to provide rapid and high-resolution imaging of tissue samples. Recent advances in instrumentation and computer aided diagnosis are enhancing the capabilities of SRH, while the use of other nonlinear modalities is opening up new possibilities for enhanced histopathology and in vivo pathology.