High-Resolution Episcopic Microscopy (HREM): A Tool for Visualizing Skin Biopsies

We evaluate the usefulness of digital volume data produced with the high-resolution episcopic microscopy (HREM) method for visualizing the three-dimensional (3D) arrangement of components of human skin, and present protocols designed for processing skin biopsies for HREM data generation. A total of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Microscopy and microanalysis 2014-10, Vol.20 (5), p.1356-1364
Main Authors: Geyer, Stefan H., Nöhammer, Maria M., Mathä, Markus, Reissig, Lukas, Tinhofer, Ines E., Weninger, Wolfgang J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acids
Biological Applications
Biopsy
Blood vessels
Histology
Humans
Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods
Microscopy
Microscopy - methods
Morphology
Phenols
Skin
Skin - pathology
Skin - ultrastructure
Skin Diseases - diagnosis
Tomography
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Summary:We evaluate the usefulness of digital volume data produced with the high-resolution episcopic microscopy (HREM) method for visualizing the three-dimensional (3D) arrangement of components of human skin, and present protocols designed for processing skin biopsies for HREM data generation. A total of 328 biopsies collected from normally appearing skin and from a melanocytic nevus were processed. Cuboidal data volumes with side lengths of ~2×3×6 mm3 and voxel sizes of 1.07×1.07×1.5 µm3 were produced. HREM data fit ideally for visualizing the epidermis at large, and for producing highly detailed volume and surface-rendered 3D representations of the dermal and hypodermal components at a structural level. The architecture of the collagen fiber bundles and the spatial distribution of nevus cells can be easily visualized with volume-rendering algorithms. We conclude that HREM has great potential to serve as a routine tool for researching and diagnosing skin pathologies.
ISSN:1431-9276
1435-8115
DOI:10.1017/S1431927614013063