Effects of formalin fixation on polarimetric properties of brain tissue: fresh or fixed?

Significance: Imaging Mueller polarimetry (IMP) appears as a promising technique for real-time delineation of healthy and neoplastic tissue during neurosurgery. The training of machine learning algorithms used for the image post-processing requires large data sets typically derived from the measurements of formalin-fixed brain sections. However, the success of the transfer of such algorithms from fixed to fresh brain tissue depends on the degree of alterations of polarimetric properties induced by formalin fixation (FF). Aim: Comprehensive studies were performed on the FF induced changes in fresh pig brain tissue polarimetric properties. Approach: Polarimetric properties of pig brain were assessed in 30 coronal thick sections before and after FF using a wide-field IMP system. The width of the uncertainty region between gray and white matter was also estimated. Results: The depolarization increased by 5% in gray matter and remained constant in white matter following FF, whereas the linear retardance decreased by 27% in gray matter and by 28% in white matter after FF. The visual contrast between gray and white matter and fiber tracking remained preserved after FF. Tissue shrinkage induced by FF did not have a significant effect on the uncertainty region width. Conclusions: Similar polarimetric properties were observed in both fresh and fixed brain tissues, indicating a high potential for transfer learning.