Co-registration of pre-operative CT with ex vivo surgically excised ground glass nodules to define spatial extent of invasive adenocarcinoma on in vivo imaging: a proof-of-concept study.

• 3D reconstructions are generated from 2D histology specimens of ground glass nodules. • The reconstruction methodology used pre-operative in vivo CT as 3D spatial constraint. • The methodology maps adenocarcinoma extent from digitized histology onto in vivo CT. • The methodology potentially facilitates the discovery of CT signature of invasive adenocarcinoma.