Image Analysis in the Molecular Pathology Core

Computerized morphometry (image analysis) is the extraction of useful information from images by means of digital image processing techniques. In our lab we use computerized morphometry of microscopic images collected from experimental animals and human tissues or cells in order to quantify nuclear descriptors of size (area, diameters), shape (ellipticity, contour irregularity) and texture (margination, heterogeneity) as well as to evaluate architectural complexity in pathological tissues (fractal dimensions, lacunarity, periodicity). Additional applications include quantification of various biological markers in immunohistochemically stained tumor cells (biopsies, tissue microarrays) and ploidy analysis of Feulgen stained cells and 3D reconstruction of tissues and cells for volumetric and spatial analyses as well as for 3D co-localization of markers. The results of the morphometric measurements are then correlated with the clinical information using uniand multi-variate statistics or Neural Networks (Artificial Intelligence) as needed.

Our imaging facility includes two digital cameras (Micropublisher 3.3 RTV from Q
Imaging, Canada and Sony, Japan), computers and the following image analysis
programs:

• Image Pro-Plus version 6 (Media Cybernetics, Baltimore)
• Media Cybernetics 3D Constructor version 5.1 (Media Cybernetics, Baltimore)
• IQbase 1.1 (Media Cybernetics)
• Attrasoft Image Finder 6. for pattern analysis and digital signature formation (Attrasoft Inc. Atlanta)
• Image J 1.33 (NIH)

A few examples are presented below, where we used computerized morphometry:

Sabo E, Beck AH, Montgomery EA, Bhattacharya B, Wang JY and Resnick MB.
Computerized Morphometry as an Aid for Determining the Grade of Dysplasia and
Progression to Adenocarcinoma in Barrett’s Esophagus. Lab Invest. 2006; [Epub ahead of print].

Donahue J, Flaherty S, Johanson C, Duncan J, Silveberg G, Miller M, Tavares R, Yang W, Wu Q, Sabo E, Hovanesian V, Stopa E. RAGE, LRP-1, and amloid-beta protein in Alzheiemer’s disease. Acta Neuropathol. 2006 accepted for publication.

Simper-Ronan R, Brilliant K, Flanagan D, Carreiro M, Callanan H, Sabo E, Hixson DC. Cholangiocyte marker-positive and -negative fetal liver cells differ significantly in their ability to regenerate the livers of adult rats exposed to retrorsine. Development. 2006;133(21):4269-79.

Sabo E, Misselevich I, Bejar J, Mendes DG, Boss JH. Morphologic and morphometric study of patellar resurfacing with woven carbon filamentous pads. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2000;120(9):502-7.

Yakirevich E, Sabo E, Dirnfeld M, Sova Y, Spagnoli GC, Resnick MB. Morphometrical quantification of spermatogonial germ cells with the 57B anti-MAGE-A4 antibody in the evaluation of testicular biopsies for azoospermia. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol. 2003;11(1):37-44.

Har-Shai Y, Amar M, Sabo E. Intralesional cryotherapy for enhancing the involution of hypertrophic scars and keloids. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2003; 111(6):1841-52.

Sabo E, Gibrat M, Sova Y, Stein A, Resnick MB. Validation of the novel indices of
nuclear pleomorphism, polarity and spatial distribution in the grading of urothelial
carcinoma. Anal Quant Cytol Histol. 2003;25(1):53-62.

Sabo E, Boltenko A, Sova Y, Stein A, Kleinhaus S, Resnick MB. Microscopic analysis and significance of vascular architectural complexity in renal cell carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2001 Mar; 7(3):533-7.

One Hoppin Street • Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-444-7237 • email: AGarcia3@lifespan.org