scholarly journals Complete Digital Pathology for Routine Histopathology Diagnosis in a Multicenter Hospital Network

2019 ◽  
Vol 144 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Antonio Retamero ◽  
Jose Aneiros-Fernandez ◽  
Raimundo G. del Moral
Keyword(s):  
Management System ◽  
Digital Pathology ◽  
Primary Diagnosis ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Image Management ◽  
University Hospitals ◽  
Implementation Phase ◽  
Sample Tracking ◽  
Glass Slides ◽  
Image Management System

Context.— Complete digital pathology and whole slide imaging for routine histopathology diagnosis is currently in use in few laboratories worldwide. Granada University Hospitals, Spain, which comprises 4 hospitals, adopted full digital pathology for primary histopathology diagnosis in 2016. Objective.— To describe the methodology adopted and the resulting experience at Granada University Hospitals in transitioning to full digital diagnosis. Design.— All histopathology glass slides generated for routine diagnosis were digitized at ×40 using the Philips IntelliSite Pathology Solution, which includes an ultrafast scanner and an image management system. All hematoxylin-eosin–stained preparations and immunohistochemistry and histochemistry slides were digitized. The existing sample-tracking software and image management system were integrated to allow data interchange through the Health Level 7 protocol. Results.— Circa 160 000 specimens have been signed out using digital pathology for primary diagnosis. This comprises more than 800 000 digitized glass slides. The scanning error rate during the implementation phase was below 1.5%, and subsequent workflow optimization rendered this rate negligible. Since implementation, Granada University Hospitals pathologists have signed out 21% more cases per year on average. Conclusions.— Digital pathology is an adequate medium for primary histopathology diagnosis. Successful digitization relies on existing sample tracking and integration of the information technology infrastructure. Rapid and reliable scanning at ×40 equivalent was key to the transition to a fully digital workflow. Digital pathology resulted in efficiency gains in the preanalytical and analytical phases, and created the basis for computational pathology: the use of computer-assisted tools to aid diagnosis.

scholarly journals A Digital Pathology Solution to Resolve the Tissue Floater Conundrum

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liron Pantanowitz ◽  
Pamela Michelow ◽  
Scott Hazelhurst ◽  
Shivam Kalra ◽  
Charles Choi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Digital Pathology ◽  
Primary Diagnosis ◽  
Image Search ◽  
Molecular Tests ◽  
Tissue Identification ◽  
Digital Database ◽  
Glass Slides ◽  
Search Tool ◽  
Hematoxylin And Eosin ◽  
Whole Slide Images

Context.— Pathologists may encounter extraneous pieces of tissue (tissue floaters) on glass slides because of specimen cross-contamination. Troubleshooting this problem, including performing molecular tests for tissue identification if available, is time consuming and often does not satisfactorily resolve the problem. Objective.— To demonstrate the feasibility of using an image search tool to resolve the tissue floater conundrum. Design.— A glass slide was produced containing 2 separate hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained tissue floaters. This fabricated slide was digitized along with the 2 slides containing the original tumors used to create these floaters. These slides were then embedded into a dataset of 2325 whole slide images comprising a wide variety of H&E stained diagnostic entities. Digital slides were broken up into patches and the patch features converted into barcodes for indexing and easy retrieval. A deep learning-based image search tool was employed to extract features from patches via barcodes, hence enabling image matching to each tissue floater. Results.— There was a very high likelihood of finding a correct tumor match for the queried tissue floater when searching the digital database. Search results repeatedly yielded a correct match within the top 3 retrieved images. The retrieval accuracy improved when greater proportions of the floater were selected. The time to run a search was completed within several milliseconds. Conclusions.— Using an image search tool offers pathologists an additional method to rapidly resolve the tissue floater conundrum, especially for those laboratories that have transitioned to going fully digital for primary diagnosis.

scholarly journals A Practical Guide to Whole Slide Imaging: A White Paper From the Digital Pathology Association

2018 ◽  
Vol 143 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark D. Zarella ◽  
Douglas Bowman; ◽  
Famke Aeffner ◽  
Navid Farahani ◽  
Albert Xthona; ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Practical Knowledge ◽  
Digital Pathology ◽  
Executive Leadership ◽  
The United States ◽  
White Paper ◽  
Primary Diagnosis ◽  
Basic Function ◽  
Whole Slide Imaging ◽  
Interinstitutional Collaboration ◽  
Glass Slides

Context.— Whole slide imaging (WSI) represents a paradigm shift in pathology, serving as a necessary first step for a wide array of digital tools to enter the field. Its basic function is to digitize glass slides, but its impact on pathology workflows, reproducibility, dissemination of educational material, expansion of service to underprivileged areas, and intrainstitutional and interinstitutional collaboration exemplifies a significant innovative movement with far-reaching effects. Although the benefits of WSI to pathology practices, academic centers, and research institutions are many, the complexities of implementation remain an obstacle to widespread adoption. In the wake of the first regulatory clearance of WSI for primary diagnosis in the United States, some barriers to adoption have fallen. Nevertheless, implementation of WSI remains a difficult prospect for many institutions, especially those with stakeholders unfamiliar with the technologies necessary to implement a system or who cannot effectively communicate to executive leadership and sponsors the benefits of a technology that may lack clear and immediate reimbursement opportunity. Objectives.— To present an overview of WSI technology—present and future—and to demonstrate several immediate applications of WSI that support pathology practice, medical education, research, and collaboration. Data Sources.— Peer-reviewed literature was reviewed by pathologists, scientists, and technologists who have practical knowledge of and experience with WSI. Conclusions.— Implementation of WSI is a multifaceted and inherently multidisciplinary endeavor requiring contributions from pathologists, technologists, and executive leadership. Improved understanding of the current challenges to implementation, as well as the benefits and successes of the technology, can help prospective users identify the best path for success.

scholarly journals Update on the current opinion, status and future development of digital pathology in Switzerland in light of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
pp. jclinpath-2021-207768
Author(s):  
Viktor Hendrik Koelzer ◽  
Rainer Grobholz ◽  
Inti Zlobec ◽  
Andrew Janowczyk
Keyword(s):  
Early Stage ◽  
Digital Pathology ◽  
Primary Diagnosis ◽  
Imaging Systems ◽  
Whole Slide Imaging ◽  
University Hospitals ◽  
Primary Diagnostics ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Standard Operating ◽  
Analogue To Digital

AimsThe transition from analogue to digital pathology (DP) in Switzerland has coincided with the COVID-19 crisis. The Swiss Digital Pathology Consortium conducted a national survey to assess the experience of pathologists in dealing with the challenges of the pandemic and how this has influenced the outlook and adoption of DP.MethodsA survey containing 20 questions relating to DP, personal experiences and challenges during the pandemic was addressed to Swiss pathologists at different experience stages in private practice, community and university hospitals.ResultsAll 74 respondents were pathologists, with 81.1% reporting more than 5 years of diagnostic service experience. 32.5% reported having read 100 digital slides or more in a diagnostic context. 39.2% reported using whole slide imaging systems at their primary workplace. Key DP use cases before the COVID-19 lockdown were tumour boards (39.2%), education (60.8%) and research (44.6%), with DP used for primary diagnosis in 13.5%. During the COVID-19 crisis, the use of DP for primary diagnostics more than doubled (30% vs 13.5%), with internal consults as important drivers (22.5% vs 16.5%), while research use (25% vs 44.6%) and external consults (17.5% vs 41.9%) strongly decreased. Key challenges identified included a lack of established standard operating procedures and availability of specialised hardware and software.ConclusionsThis survey indicates that the crisis acted as a catalyst in promoting DP adoption in centres where basic workflows were already established while posing major technical and organisational challenges in institutions that were at an early stage of DP implementation.

scholarly journals OSPACS: Ultrasound image management system

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Will Stott ◽  
Andy Ryan ◽  
Ian J Jacobs ◽  
Usha Menon ◽  
Conrad Bessant ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management System ◽  
Ultrasound Image ◽  
Image Management ◽  
Image Management System
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