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The University of Southampton
µ-VIS: Multidisciplinary, Multiscale, Microtomographic Volume Imaging

3D X-ray Histology (XRH)

What is 3D X-ray Histology (XRH)

3D X-ray Histology
XRH

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.

In-house developed software for correlative imaging visualisation in Fiji/Image

LinkedView

In-house developed software for correlative imaging visualisation in Fiji/Image

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