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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 September 2014

Stefan H. Geyer ,
Maria M. Nöhammer ,
Markus Mathä ,
Lukas Reissig ,
Ines E. Tinhofer  and
Wolfgang J. Weninger
Stefan H. Geyer
Affiliation:
MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London, NW7 1AA, UK Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Street 13, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
Maria M. Nöhammer
Affiliation:
Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Street 13, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
Markus Mathä
Affiliation:
Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Street 13, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
Lukas Reissig
Affiliation:
Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Street 13, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
Ines E. Tinhofer
Affiliation:
Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Street 13, A-1090 Vienna, Austria Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Street 13, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
Wolfgang J. Weninger*
Affiliation:
Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Street 13, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
*
*Corresponding author. [email protected]
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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.

Keywords

imaging3DHREMepiscopicskin
Type
Biological Applications
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 20 , Issue 5 , October 2014 , pp. 1356 - 1364
Copyright
© Microscopy Society of America 2014 

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