Cris’ Image Analysis Blog

theory, methods, algorithms, applications

Proper counting

I just came across an editorial in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (Kirsten M. Madsen, Am Soc Nephrol 10(5):1124-1125, 1999), which states:

A considerable number of manuscripts submitted to the Journal include quantitative morphologic data based on counts and measurements of profiles observed in tissue sections or projected images. Quite often these so-called morphometric analyses are based on assumptions and approximations that cannot be verified and therefore may be incorrect. Moreover, many manuscripts have insufficient descriptions of the sampling procedures and statistical analyses in the Methods section, or it is apparent that inappropriate (biased) sampling techniques were used. Because of the availability today of many new and some old stereologic methods and tools that are not based on undeterminable assumptions about size, shape, or orientation of structures, the Editors of the Journal believe that it is time to dispense with the old, often biased, model-based stereology and change the way we count and measure.

It then goes on to say that the journal would require appropriate stereological methods be employed for quantitative morphologic studies. I have never read a paper in this journal, but certainly hope that they managed to hold on to this standard during the 15 years since this editorial was written. Plenty of journals have not come this far yet.