Interpolation-based intermediary image generation for three-dimensional histologic arterial reconstruction

Histology is the standard approach for evaluation of the extent and stage of various diseases. It is important to properly evaluate the type and morphology of atherosclerotic plaques. It is difficult to achieve accurate registration of histologic images of atheroma-containing arterial beds due to tissue shrinkage, fixation, cutting artifact, soft tissue deformation, etc. We have developed a novel nonlinear shape and color interpolation algorithm using sequential histologic images of an arterial segment to generate intermediary images along the longitudinal direction. The natural cubic spline interpolation method was used to determine intermediary arterial structure and color intensity information inside the arterial wall structure utilizing both arterial geometry and color intensity information of raw histologic images. Intermediary images generated using our novel nonlinear shape and color interpolation algorithm demonstrated good agreement with the corresponding raw histologic images both qualitatively and quantitatively. Volumetric three-dimensional (3D) histologic images clearly demonstrates 3D atheroma distribution information. Volumetric 3D visualization allows us to better understand continuously spread extent of atheroma across the arterial structure, which cannot be easily identified using 2D histologic images alone. This novel 3D histologic visualization strategy has the potential to improve vascular structure evaluation, particularly in determining 3D atheroma distribution.