Quantitative Image Processing for Three-Dimensional Episcopic Images of Biological Structures: Current State and...

Area of Science:

• Biological imaging
• Microscopy
• Quantitative analysis

Background:

• Episcopic imaging, including High Resolution Episcopic Microscopy (HREM), enables large-field, 3D visualization of biological samples.
• Quantitative analysis of these images is crucial for extracting meaningful data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review trends in quantitative analysis of episcopic images.
• To identify areas for future research and development in the field.
• To explore potential for automation and standardization.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of papers published between 2011 and 2022.
• Analysis of quantitative analysis approaches, image annotation methods, and software choices.
• Meta-analysis of identified trends.

Main Results:

• Quantitative processing in episcopic microscopy is becoming more prevalent.
• Manual annotation is currently the predominant method for image analysis.
• Significant opportunities exist for improving tools and methods.

Conclusions:

• The field of quantitative episcopic imaging requires further development in tools and methodologies.
• Automation and standardization of annotation and quantification are key future directions.
• Advancements will enhance the utility of 3D biological imaging data.