Methods of Hematoxylin and Erosin Image Information Acquisition and Optimization in Confocal Microscopy

Abstract

ObjectivesWe produced hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining-like color images by using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), which can obtain the same or more information in comparison to conventional tissue staining.MethodsWe improved images by using several image converting techniques, including morphological methods, color space conversion methods, and segmentation methods.ResultsAn image obtained after image processing showed coloring very similar to that in images produced by H&E staining, and it is advantageous to conduct analysis through fluorescent dye imaging and microscopy rather than analysis based on single microscopic imaging.ConclusionsThe colors used in CLSM are different from those seen in H&E staining, which is the method most widely used for pathologic diagnosis and is familiar to pathologists. Computer technology can facilitate the conversion of images by CLSM to be very similar to H&E staining images. We believe that the technique used in this study has great potential for application in clinical tissue analysis.