Strategies in Cytology Virtual Slides Scanning, Experience From One Digital Image Facility
Lei Zhang, Lei-Ann Arceneaux, Richard M. DeMay · American Journal of Clinical Pathology · 2013
Cytology virtual slide images are increasingly used in education, research and clinical diagnosis. Cytology slides are usually three-dimensional in contrast to two-dimensional images of histology, and may require different scanning techniques. We investigate the cautions and optimal strategies for cytology slides scanning. To compensate the overlapping of cell clusters and different requirement for nuclear detail and architecture recognition, 77 cytology slides from thyroid aspiration were subjected to strategies of focusing planes, magnification power increase and Z-axis stack. Compared with glass slides, 84% (65/77) of whole slide images were satisfactory at scanning power of x20. Repeat scanning by carefully changing focusing planes acquired better images in 5 of the 11 initially unsatisfactory images. Five images required rescan at x40 magnification power and one image had to be managed with Z-axis scan. In our experience, a hierarchy scanning strategies is a cost-effective way to acquire satisfactory cytology whole slide images.