Welcome to PathPixel’s very first blog on digital pathology! Are you a pathologist and wondering how digital pathology can make your life easier? Maybe you’re just curious about what the digital
transformation of pathology will look like, and the future of AI in pathology intrigues you. Well,
whatever the question, we have the answers at Pathpixel. Through a series of blogs, we will attempt to explain the various facets of digital pathology and ways to incorporate them into your work. Let’s start our journey with a basic outline of digital pathology.
Digital pathology is a field that encompasses the acquisition, management, sharing, and interpretation of pathology information in a digital environment. This technology allows pathologists to view high-resolution digital images of tissue or fluid samples on a computer screen rather than through a conventional microscope. Creating these digital images involves capturing the glass slides using a scanning device or microscope camera, which makes an image that can be viewed remotely using specialized digital pathology software applications. In this article, we& will explore the basics of digital pathology and how it is changing how it is practiced.
The history of digital pathology dates back many decades; however, it is only in the past decade that digital pathology has undergone a true digital transformation. In recent years, high-throughput, automated digital pathology scanners have enabled capturing entire glass slides under bright field or fluorescent conditions at a magnification comparable to a microscope. These digital slides can be shared over networks, allowing for remote collaboration and consultation. Additionally, automated image analysis tools can be applied to assist in interpreting and quantifying biomarker expression within tissue sections. The rapid progress of whole slide imaging (WSI) technology and advances in software applications, LIS interfacing, and high-speed networking have fully integrated digital pathology into pathology workflows. Digital pathology enables pathologists to engage, evaluate, and collaborate rapidly and remotely, with transparency and consistency, thus improving efficiency and productivity.
One of the most significant benefits of digital pathology is the ability to view and share samples online. This eliminates the need to ship physical slides and allows for rapid diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Expert pathologists can work from anywhere, and every case can potentially be diagnosed by the leading global authority of its specific variety of disease studies online.
One of the most promising areas in digital pathology is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques to assist pathologists in making faster and more accurate diagnoses. AI-powered algorithms can be used to analyze digital images of tissue samples and identify abnormalities that may be difficult for even the most experienced pathologist to detect. This can improve the accuracy and consistency of diagnoses, especially in cases with a high degree of variability in interpretation between pathologists.
For example, deep learning algorithms can be trained to recognize patterns in digital slides and identify areas likely to contain cancerous cells. These algorithms can also be used to identify specific biomarkers and quantify their expression levels, which can be useful for predicting patient outcomes and selecting targeted therapies. Additionally, AI can assist in detecting infectious agents in tissue samples, which can be especially important for diagnosing emerging diseases.
The development of AI-powered pathology tools is still in its early stages, but there has already been significant progress in this area. Several companies have developed AI-powered pathology software applications that accurately identify various types of cancer and other diseases. These applications are already being used in clinical settings and are expected to become more widespread in the coming years. While the use of AI in pathology has the potential to improve patient outcomes and increase the efficiency of pathology workflows, it is important to note that it is not intended to replace human pathologists. AI is meant to assist pathologists in making more accurate diagnoses, but a trained medical professional must always make the final decision.
In conclusion, digital pathology is a rapidly advancing field that has the potential to revolutionize the way pathology is practiced. Its benefits include remote collaboration, faster diagnosis, and sharing expertise worldwide. As technology continues to advance, the future of digital pathology could eventually encompass enhanced translational research, computer-aided diagnosis
and personalized medicine.
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Written by
Subramaniam Ramkumar MD
Lab Director & Chief consultant in Histopathology and Cytopathology
KRL Labs Kolkata, India