A method for quantitative characterization of fixed histological samples by means of digital holographic microscopy

Methods for quantitative characterization of fixed histological samples have been developed. These methods are based on a statistical analysis of phase images obtained by digital holographic microscopy. The suggested approach enables a fully automated processing of reconstructed phase images and makes it possible to obtain quantitative information about the optical characteristics and sizes of structural elements of a tissue in a histological sample. The method was tested on three types of histological sample: ciliated cylindrical epithelium, elastic cartilage, and liver.