1. Method for the detection and visualization of the spatial distribution of tissue states of histologic samples comprising the following steps: a) production of at least one histologic sample as a tissue section, b) preparation of the samples for mass spectrometric analyses on a support, c) spatially resolved detection of mass spectrometric signals along one or two dimensions of the samples, d) calculation of localized characteristics which distinguish between different states, calculated as mathematical or logical expressions from at least two mass spectrometric signals of each tissue spot, and e) graphic representation of the spatial distribution of the characteristics which distinguish between different states for at least one of the samples.