In the field of medicine, pathology is frequently referred to as the "pilot" discipline, given its pivotal role in diagnostics and therapeutic interventions. The examination of tissue and cells is essential for the accurate identification and classification of diseases, which forms the foundation for effective treatment. Microscope techniques are utilised to observe and document the various morphological changes associated with the disease.

Since the mid-19th century, when Rudolf Virchow co-founded the field of pathology, tissue diagnoses have been made to the present day on fine tissue sections using a simple light microscope, as we are sometimes still familiar with from our school biology lessons. In recent decades, however, the diagnostic precision of cancers has not only increased thanks to new possibilities in molecular biology and genetics, but considerable progress has also been made in biophysical imaging. The latest imaging techniques provide a broad range of possibilities for high-resolution three-dimensional tissue analysis. By acting as a virtual microscope, these techniques can bridge the gap between the macroscopic and microscopic pillars of radiology and pathology.