Digital slide and virtual microscopy-based routine and telepathology evaluation of gastrointestinal biopsy specimen

Abstract

Aims: Evaluation of a recently developed digital slide scanning and virtual microscope (VM) system and its comparison with optical microscopy on routine gastric biopsy specimen in local and remote access mode. Methods: A digital slide scanning system was used (Mirax Scan 3DHISTECH Ltd., Budapest, Hungary). The scanning program included label area barcode identification, object detection, autofocus, and image compression algorithms. The overall hard-disk place for a gastric biopsy was between 30 and 50 megabytes and the scanning time was between 2 and 4 min. H/E-stained routine gastric (61) and colon (42) biopsy specimen were selected, scanned, and evaluated by two specialists on an optical microscope (OM) and a VM. Results: The overall concordance of VM to a consensus diagnosis (CON) was 96.1% and that of the OM to a CON was 97%. The clinically important concordances were 97% and 98%, respectively. The two methods showed concordance in 93% and clinically important concordance in 95%. The reasons of the discordance were interpretation difference (four cases) and insufficient clinical information (three cases). Remote evaluation of the digital slides through Internet shows the combined advantages of the previously used static and dynamic telepathology methods. Conclusions: At present, scanning speed and automation of scanning are already here for routine application on gastrointestinal biopsy specimen. Digital slide and the VM are ready for the computerization of the histology laboratory and in teleconsultation services. Our partial study proved the immediate opportunity for the application in gastrointestinal specimen. © Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2009.