ALIGNING HISTOLOGICAL SERIAL SECTIONS FOR 3-DIMENSIONAL RECONSTRUCTION USING AN EXCIMER-LASER BEAM

Accurate alignment of histological sections has always been a fundamen tal problem in the three-dimensional reconstruction of tissue structur es from serial sections. An excimer laser was used to create small bol es in paraffin processed colorectal tissue blocks. The laser holes wer e 200-230 mum in diameter and penetrated the tissue approximately 0.5 mm. No damage was caused to the surrounding tissue. Using a VIDAS imag e analyser, these microscopic holes could be used as artificial refere nce points (ARPs) for the accurate alignment of consecutive serial sec tions and three-dimensional reconstruction of colorectal glandular tis sue.