Steps in Conventional CJD Pathology Studies
Pathologist cuts the brain into coronal slices of constant thickness (e.g. 10mm)
Regions of interest are chosen by the pathologist who then cuts blocks about 20mmx20mm out of the slices
Microscopic sections are cut from the blocks using a microtome
Estimates on the 2-D sections images are made of neuronal loss, gliosis, PrP staining, and numbers & types of plaque