Three-dimensional visualization and quantitative analysis of cervical cell nuclei with confocal laser scanning microscopy.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a method for the acquisition and processing of 3-dimensional images based on confocal laser scanning microscopy for the purpose of 3-dimensional visualization and quantitative analysis of cell nuclei.


METHODS
A contour-based surface rendering method was used, and volume rendering was implemented according to the basic volume rendering pipeline. To extract quantitative features, a 3-dimensional labeling method based on slice information was used. After applying the labeling algorithm, the measurements for 3-dimensional quantitative analysis of nuclei were extracted: nuclear volume, surface area and spherical shape factor. We compared the 3-dimensional features of normal and abnormal cervical cell nuclei.


RESULTS
Comparison of the size of 3-dimensional cervical cell nuclei between normal and abnormal revealed a statistically significant difference. The proposed method could overcome the limitation inherent in 2-dimensional analysis and could become a way of improving the accuracy and reproducibility of quantification of cell nuclei.


CONCLUSIONS
Three-dimensional visualization and quantification of cell nuclei provide valuable medical information that can lead to a more objective diagnosis.
Choi
Hyun-Ju
HJ
School of Computer Engineering, Inje University, Gimhae, Gyungnam Republic of Korea.
Choi
Ik-Hwan
IH
Kim
Tae-Yun
TY
Cho
Nam-Hoon
NH
Choi
Heung-Kook
HK
D000465:Algorithms; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D047569:Laser Scanning Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D012984:Software