Fully Automated Tissue Classification by Imaging Mass Spectrometry

Desorption electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry is a surface analysis technique that can rapidly analyse the lipid and metabolite composition of a tissue section. By moving the tissue under the analysis probe, a chemical map of the sample can be generated in a matter of minutes. Each tissue type or disease state has its own characteristic molecular fingerprint, therefore, using histologically annotated databases of these molecular profiles, these maps can be classified using machine learning approaches. This poster investigates how this technique could potentially be used to assist in histopathology workflows.