Comprehensive stereological assessment of the human lung using multiresolution computed tomography
Dragoş M. Vasilescu, A.B. Phillion, Daisuke Kinose, Stijn E. Verleden, Bart Vanaudenaerde, Geert M. Verleden, Dirk Van Raemdonck, Christopher S. Stevenson, Cameron Hague, MeiLan K. Han, Joel D. Cooper, Tillie‐Louise Hackett, James C. Hogg
Abstract
Stereology has been the gold standard to quantify the three-dimensional lung anatomy using two-dimensional microscopy images. However, such techniques are labor intensive. This study provides a method that applies stereology to volumetric computed tomography images of frozen whole human lungs and systematic uniform random samples. The method yielded a comprehensive data set on the small airways and parenchymal lung structures, highlighting morphometric sex differences and providing a reference data set for future pathological studies.