X-ray imaging by micro-computed tomography (µCT) is a key technique in the rapidly developing field of 3D microscopy. Until recently, 3D imaging of wax-embedded histological tissues was beyond the reach of μCT. We have shown that microstructural detail can be captured from standard (non-stained) tissue blocks. Being able to "see" the tissue structure in full 3D can overturn misconceptions of disease development.

3D X-ray histology (XRH) is a µCT -based workflow tailored to fit seamlessly into current histology workflows in biomedical and pre-clinical research, as well as clinical histopathology.

3D X-ray histology allows: 

✓ Non-destructive, distortion-free 3D (volume) imaging of conventionally prepared FFPE tissue specimens
✓ Imaging of conventionally prepared formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue
✓ Spatial resolution down to 5 μm
✓ Correlative 2D histology and immunohistochemistry and 3D visualisation
✓ Whole block imaging
✓ A multitude of 2D and 3D visualisation modes similar to the ones used in clinical radiology, including:
  - multi-planar reconstruction (MPR)
  - maximum intensity projections (MIP)
  - interactive volume rendering
  - 'on-the-fly' arbitrary slicing

 

More than just imaging...

3D X-ray Histology is much more that micro-CT imaging of soft-tissue samples. 3D XRH is complete and constantly developing workflow which also allows for reliable sample traceability, correlative imaging visualisation, data sharing and reporting, and automatic metadata parsing. 

^{The key components of this workflow were presented as Lightning talks in ToScA2020, and they can be found in the links below.}