title: High-resolution episcopic microscopy (HREM): a tool for visualizing skin biopsies.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 1MRC National Institute for Medical Research,London,NW7 1AA,UK.
authors.forename: Stefan H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Geyer
authors.affiliation: 2Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology,Medical University of Vienna,Waehringer Street 13,A-1090 Vienna,Austria.
authors.forename: Maria M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Nöhammer
authors.affiliation: 2Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology,Medical University of Vienna,Waehringer Street 13,A-1090 Vienna,Austria.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mathä
authors.affiliation: 2Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology,Medical University of Vienna,Waehringer Street 13,A-1090 Vienna,Austria.
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reissig
authors.affiliation: 2Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology,Medical University of Vienna,Waehringer Street 13,A-1090 Vienna,Austria.
authors.forename: Ines E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Tinhofer
authors.affiliation: 2Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology,Medical University of Vienna,Waehringer Street 13,A-1090 Vienna,Austria.
authors.forename: Wolfgang J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Weninger
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*