Digital images and the future of digital pathology
Liron Pantanowitz · Journal of Pathology Informatics · 2010
Digital imaging today represents more of an evolution than a revolution in pathology.In a recent Scientific American review of digital pathology, the editors point out that (1) an overhaul of pathology integrating digital images is long overdue, (2) promising techniques are allowing digital images to be manipulated in novel ways, and (3) digital pathology will in due course permit more precise diagnoses.[1] In pathology, digital images can be used to make primary diagnoses, offer second opinions (consultation), for telepathology, quality assurance (e.g.re-review and proficiency testing), archiving and sharing, education and conferencing, image analysis, research and publications, marketing and business purposes, as well as tracking (e.g.audit trail of how an image was viewed).Widespread adoption of digital pathology has been hindered not only by cost and technical factors, but also largely by the mindset of technophobic pathologists.