Two- and three-dimensional quantitative image analysis of coronary arteries from high-resolution histological sections

David Richard Holmes III; Richard A. Robb

doi:10.1117/12.384887

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3 May 2000 Two- and three-dimensional quantitative image analysis of coronary arteries from high-resolution histological sections

David Richard Holmes III, Richard A. Robb

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Proceedings Volume 3911, Biomedical Diagnostic, Guidance, and Surgical-Assist Systems II; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.384887
Event: BiOS 2000 The International Symposium on Biomedical Optics, 2000, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

The study of coronary arteries has evolved from examining gross anatomy and morphology to scrutinizing micro-anatomy and cellular composition. Technological advances such as high-powered digital microscopes and high precision cutting devices have allowed clinicians to examine coronary artery morphology and pathology at micron resolution. Our work explores the composition of normal coronary arteries in order to provide the foundation for further study of remodeled tissue. The first of two coronary arteries was sliced into 442 sections with 4 micron inter-slice spacing. Each slice was stained for elastin and collagen. The second coronary artery was sectioned into 283 slices, also with 4 micron resolution. These slices were stained for cellular nuclei and smooth muscle. High sectioned into 283 slices, also with 4 micron resolution. These slices were stained for cellular nuclei and smooth muscle. High resolution light microscopy was used to image the sections. The data was analyzed for collagen/elastin content and nuclei density, respectively. Processing of this type of data is challenging in the areas of segmentation, visualization and quantification. Segmentation was confounded by variation in image quality as well as complexity of the coronary tissue. These problems were overcome by the development of 'smart' thresholding algorithms for segmentation. In addition, morphology and image statistics were used to further refine the result of the segmentation. Specificity/sensitivity analysis suggests that automatic segmentation can be very effective. 3D visualization of coronary arteries is challenging due to multiple tissue layers. Method such as summed voxel projection and maximum intensity projection appear to be effective. Shading methods also provide adequate visualization, however it is important to incorporate combined 2D and 3D displays. Surface rendering techniques are useful tools for visualizing parametric data. Quantification in 3D is simple in practice but appropriate descriptions of these results must be displayed to clinicians in a clear way. Preliminary results are promising, but continued development of algorithms for processing histological data is needed.

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David Richard Holmes III and Richard A. Robb "Two- and three-dimensional quantitative image analysis of coronary arteries from high-resolution histological sections", Proc. SPIE 3911, Biomedical Diagnostic, Guidance, and Surgical-Assist Systems II, (3 May 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.384887

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