Virtual reality (VR) enables data visualization in an immersive and engaging
manner, and it can be used for creating ways to explore scientific data. Here,
we use VR for visualization of 3D histology data, creating a novel interface
for digital pathology. Our contribution includes 3D modeling of a whole organ
and embedded objects of interest, fusing the models with associated
quantitative features and full resolution serial section patches, and
implementing the virtual reality application. Our VR application is multi-scale
in nature, covering two object levels representing different ranges of detail,
namely organ level and sub-organ level. In addition, the application includes
several data layers, including the measured histology image layer and multiple
representations of quantitative features computed from the histology. In this
interactive VR application, the user can set visualization properties, select
different samples and features, and interact with various objects. In this
work, we used whole mouse prostates (organ level) with prostate cancer tumors
(sub-organ objects of interest) as example cases, and included quantitative
histological features relevant for tumor biology in the VR model. Due to
automated processing of the histology data, our application can be easily
adopted to visualize other organs and pathologies from various origins. Our
application enables a novel way for exploration of high-resolution,
multidimensional data for biomedical research purposes, and can also be used in
teaching and researcher training