IMPROVING STEREOLOGICAL ESTIMATES FOR THE VOLUME OF STRUCTURES IDENTIFIED IN 3-DIMENSIONAL ARRAYS OF SPATIAL DATA

Investigators frequently measure the volumes of anatomic structures. T hese volumes can answer important scientific questions such as whether a structure differs between two groups, which structures a disease af fects, or how the size of a structure relates to its function. Magneti c resonance (MR) imaging, X-ray computed tomography and confocal micro scopy are used more and more frequently in anatomic studies; each yiel ds information that is spatially organized as a three-dimensional arra y. We describe how to improve an efficient stereological technique for estimating the volumes of structures that are identifiable in these a rrays. As an example, we apply the technique to measuring brain volume s by NIR imaging. We then show how the results of the technique may be used for solving a typical problem in experimental design. This techn ique is applicable to a wide range of experimental problems. We discus s its limitations and offer some suggestions and observations relating to its use. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.