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Automated Measurement of Blood Vessels in Tissues from Microscopy Images
Neil J Kelly1, Nadine Dandachi1, Dmitry A Goncharov1,2
1Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Insights
This study introduces a novel skeletonization method for accurately quantifying tunica media thickness in cardiopulmonary research. A new software tool, the VMI Calculator, is also provided to simplify these measurements.
Area of Science:
- Cardiopulmonary Research
- Medical Image Analysis
- Histology
Background:
- Accurate quantification of tunica media thickness is crucial in cardiopulmonary research.
- Current manual methods for measuring medial wall thickness are inaccurate and cumbersome.
- Lack of rigorous examination of quantification methods with modern image analysis tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate an improved method for medial wall thickness quantification.
- To compare the novel method with existing techniques.
- To provide a user-friendly software tool for facilitating measurements.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel wall thickness calculation method based on image skeletonization.
- Comparison of the skeleton-based method with common quantification techniques.
- Validation using both theoretical and empirical approaches.
Main Results:
- The skeleton-based method demonstrates superior accuracy and efficiency compared to traditional techniques.
- The study discusses the interpretation and limitations of the novel method.
- A new, freely available software tool (VMI Calculator) has been developed.
Conclusions:
- The novel skeletonization-based method offers a more accurate and efficient approach to quantifying tunica media thickness.
- The VMI Calculator facilitates the application of this improved method in research.
- This advancement addresses the limitations of current manual measurement practices.
Abstract:
The quantification of tunica media thickness in histological cross sections is a ubiquitous exercise in cardiopulmonary research, yet the methods for quantifying medial wall thickness have never been rigorously examined with modern image analysis tools. As a result, inaccurate and cumbersome manual measurements of discrete wall regions along the vessel periphery have become common practice for wall thickness quantification. The aim of this study is to introduce, validate, and facilitate the use of an improved method for medial wall thickness quantification. We describe a novel method of wall thickness calculation based on image skeletonization and compare its results to those of common techniques. Using both theoretical and empirical approaches, we demonstrate the accuracy and superiority of the skeleton-based method for measuring wall thickness while discussing its interpretation and limitations. Finally, we present a new freely available software tool, the VMI Calculator, to facilitate wall thickness measurements using our novel method. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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