Three-dimensional registration of prostate images from histology and ultrasound.

A whole mount histology protocol for 3-D tissue reconstruction to compare the size and spatial location of tumors (and other components) identified in histology data with that from 3-D ultrasound (US) images is presented. Prostate specimens are imaged in 3-D using B-mode (US) and sonoelastography. The prostate surface is outlined in each B-mode image and a 3-D surface reconstruction is made. The specimen is then prepared for whole mount histology and the histology slides are digitally reconstructed to make a 3-D surface. These two surfaces are then aligned using a 3-D correlation algorithm, and the tumor boundary determined by the pathologist is compared with that using sonoelastography. 3-D images showing the overlapping histology and sonoelastography of prostate surface reconstructions for one prostate are presented to illustrate the technique; results for four prostates yielded an accuracy of 92% +/- 3%.