Digital Pathology
Digital pathology is an image-based information environment that is enabled by computer technology to allow for the management of information generated from a digital slide. It is enabled in part by virtual microscopy, which is the practice of converting glass slides into digital slides that can be viewed, managed, and analyzed on a computer monitor. With the advent of whole-slide imaging, the field of digital pathology has exploded and is currently regarded as one of the most promising avenues of diagnostic medicine to achieve even better, faster and cheaper diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of cancer and other important diseases.
Digital pathology also holds the promise of interconnecting pathologists around the globe in ways that will advance diagnostic accuracy and improve patient outcomes.
In pathology, trained pathologists look at tissue slides under a microscope. The tissue on those slides may be subjected to staining to highlight structures. When those slides are digitized, they then have the potential to be numerically analyzed using computer algorithms. Algorithms can be used to automate the manual counting of structures, or for classifying the condition of tissue such as is used in grading tumors.
This could reduce human error and improve accuracy of diagnoses. Digital slides are also, by nature, easier to share than physical slides. This increases potential for using data for education and consultations between two or more experts.
In April, the US Food and Drug Administration approved for marketing the Philips IntelliSite Pathology Solution (PIPS), the first whole slide imaging (WSI) system that allows for review and interpretation of digital surgical pathology slides prepared from biopsied tissue. It was the first time the FDA permitted the marketing of a WSI system for these purposes.
Thus the high cost of implementing this technology is slowing adoption of these systems by smaller private pathology groups. It is estimated that around 1,000 pathology labs worldwide own and use digital pathology systems on a regular basis.
Smaller organizations often believe they must engage in full adoption, which means digitizing all cases and every glass slide, then reading all the images on a monitor. Partial adoption is also possible, though, and new technology is expected to allow smaller pathology groups to go digital via a cloud-based pathologist workflow solution.
First Digital Path AI Tool Cleared for Market by FDA
CEO SUMMARY: In a first for the anatomic pathology profession, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared for market a digital pathology image analysis product intended to aid pathologists in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Developed by New York City-based Paige, the Paige…
Paige’s Digital AI Tool Aids in Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
CEO SUMMARY: Study data provided to the FDA “demonstrated increased diagnostic accuracy” when pathologists used the Paige Prostate system, said Paige’s Medical Director. The artificial intelligence-powered pathology image analysis tool is trained to help pathologists detect ev…
Digital Pathology Image Service Delivers AI via the Internet
IN GERMANY, AN EMERGING DIGITAL PATHOLOGY (DP) COMPANY has introduced a novel feature that could be a low-cost way for pathology groups to access artificial intelligence (AI) for digital image analysis. This would appeal to pathologists who may be reluctant to invest the substantial cost and time req…
UK Hospitals to Deploy AI to Speed Prostate Cancer Diagnoses
SEEKING TO SPEED UP THE PRODUCTION OF TEST RESULTS for men suspected of having prostate cancer, six hospitals in the United Kingdom (UK) will get funding to determine if artificial intelligence (AI) can diagnose prostate cancer quicker and more accurately than pathologists….
Proscia Lands Major Deals as Digital Pathology Demand Grows
EVEN AS THE WORLDWIDE COVID-19 PANDEMIC DERAILED SOME INDUSTRIES, it gave a major boost to digital pathology. That has meant an expanding market for Proscia, a seven-year-old provider of digital and computational pathology solutions. Established in 2014, Proscia recently won …
Digital Pathology Launched in the ‘Era of COVID-19’
CEO SUMMARY: Is it smart to initiate digital pathology (DP) systems and whole-slide imaging just as a novel coronavirus upends healthcare and society at large? That was the question asked at Poplar Healthcare, a pathology lab in Memphis. Senior management proceeded with the implemen…
Joint Pathology Center Goes Digital; Signs Deals with Proscia, Huron
IT’S A MAJOR ENDORSEMENT of digital pathology and whole slide imaging. Last week, the federal government’s Joint Pathology Center announced agreements with two digital pathology companies. The goal is to digitize incoming slides and archived slides, support a digital pathol…
Pathology Groups Should Plan to Use Digital Pathology
WHEN AN ANATOMIC PATHOLOGY GROUP CONSIDERS IMPLEMENTING digital pathology and whole-slide imaging (WSI) for primary diagnosis, it must identify and understand a range of challenges and opportunities. “Every pathology group should start by considering how it will use the related technologies of a…
Expert Sees Pros, Cons In DP and WSI Systems
CEO SUMMARY: Now that the FDA has cleared two digital pathology systems for use in primary diagnosis, a growing number of pathology groups are taking up the question of whether and when they should adopt and use a digital pathology system and whole slide imaging. One pathologist with hand…
Outside US, Digital Path Moves Ahead Rapidly
CEO SUMMARY: Implementation of digital pathology and whole-slide imaging systems in the United States lags behind that of other countries for two reasons. One is a more acute shortage of pathologists in those countries and the other is a less restrictive regulatory environment. In some lo…
CURRENT ISSUE
Volume XXXI, No. 11 – August 12, 2024
This issue identifies current lab trends as experienced by the two Blood Brothers, Labcorp and Quest Diagnostics, and delves into these trends. Also, a new survey highlights consumer healthcare trends that labs should be aware of.
See the full table of contentsHow Much Laboratory Business Intelligence Have You Missed?
Lab leaders rely on THE DARK REPORT for actionable intelligence on important developments in the business of laboratory testing. Maximize the money you make-and the money you keep! Best of all, it is released every three weeks!
Sign up for TDR Insider
Join the Dark Intelligence Group FREE and get TDR Insider FREE!
Never miss a single update on the issues that matter to you and your business.