Digital Pathology Implementation in Private Practice: Specific Challenges and Opportunities
Digital pathology (DP) is being deployed in many pathology laboratories, but most reported experiences refer to public health facilities. In this paper, we report our experience in DP transition at a high-volume private laboratory, addressing the main challenges in DP implementation in a private pra...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Diagnostics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/12/2/529 |
| _version_ | 1797481187263905792 |
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| author | Diana Montezuma Ana Monteiro João Fraga Liliana Ribeiro Sofia Gonçalves André Tavares João Monteiro Isabel Macedo-Pinto |
| author_facet | Diana Montezuma Ana Monteiro João Fraga Liliana Ribeiro Sofia Gonçalves André Tavares João Monteiro Isabel Macedo-Pinto |
| author_sort | Diana Montezuma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Digital pathology (DP) is being deployed in many pathology laboratories, but most reported experiences refer to public health facilities. In this paper, we report our experience in DP transition at a high-volume private laboratory, addressing the main challenges in DP implementation in a private practice setting and how to overcome these issues. We started our implementation in 2020 and we are currently scanning 100% of our histology cases. Pre-existing sample tracking infrastructure facilitated this process. We are currently using two high-capacity scanners (Aperio GT450DX) to digitize all histology slides at 40×. Aperio eSlide Manager WebViewer viewing software is bidirectionally linked with the laboratory information system. Scanning error rate, during the test phase, was 2.1% (errors detected by the scanners) and 3.5% (manual quality control). Pre-scanning phase optimizations and vendor feedback and collaboration were crucial to improve WSI quality and are ongoing processes. Regarding pathologists’ validation, we followed the Royal College of Pathologists recommendations for DP implementation (adapted to our practice). Although private sector implementation of DP is not without its challenges, it will ultimately benefit from DP safety and quality-associated features. Furthermore, DP deployment lays the foundation for artificial intelligence tools integration, which will ultimately contribute to improving patient care. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:10:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f99d646f006b43a4b3afa137325756d5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4418 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:10:55Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diagnostics |
| spelling | doaj.art-f99d646f006b43a4b3afa137325756d52023-11-23T19:33:39ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182022-02-0112252910.3390/diagnostics12020529Digital Pathology Implementation in Private Practice: Specific Challenges and OpportunitiesDiana Montezuma0Ana Monteiro1João Fraga2Liliana Ribeiro3Sofia Gonçalves4André Tavares5João Monteiro6Isabel Macedo-Pinto7IMP Diagnostics, Edifício Trade Center do Bom Sucesso, 61, Sala 809, 4150-146 Porto, PortugalIMP Diagnostics, Edifício Trade Center do Bom Sucesso, 61, Sala 809, 4150-146 Porto, PortugalDepartment of Pathology, Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto), R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200-072 Porto, PortugalIMP Diagnostics, Edifício Trade Center do Bom Sucesso, 61, Sala 809, 4150-146 Porto, PortugalIMP Diagnostics, Edifício Trade Center do Bom Sucesso, 61, Sala 809, 4150-146 Porto, PortugalIMP Diagnostics, Edifício Trade Center do Bom Sucesso, 61, Sala 809, 4150-146 Porto, PortugalIMP Diagnostics, Edifício Trade Center do Bom Sucesso, 61, Sala 809, 4150-146 Porto, PortugalIMP Diagnostics, Edifício Trade Center do Bom Sucesso, 61, Sala 809, 4150-146 Porto, PortugalDigital pathology (DP) is being deployed in many pathology laboratories, but most reported experiences refer to public health facilities. In this paper, we report our experience in DP transition at a high-volume private laboratory, addressing the main challenges in DP implementation in a private practice setting and how to overcome these issues. We started our implementation in 2020 and we are currently scanning 100% of our histology cases. Pre-existing sample tracking infrastructure facilitated this process. We are currently using two high-capacity scanners (Aperio GT450DX) to digitize all histology slides at 40×. Aperio eSlide Manager WebViewer viewing software is bidirectionally linked with the laboratory information system. Scanning error rate, during the test phase, was 2.1% (errors detected by the scanners) and 3.5% (manual quality control). Pre-scanning phase optimizations and vendor feedback and collaboration were crucial to improve WSI quality and are ongoing processes. Regarding pathologists’ validation, we followed the Royal College of Pathologists recommendations for DP implementation (adapted to our practice). Although private sector implementation of DP is not without its challenges, it will ultimately benefit from DP safety and quality-associated features. Furthermore, DP deployment lays the foundation for artificial intelligence tools integration, which will ultimately contribute to improving patient care.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/12/2/529digital pathologyWSILISartificial intelligenceroutine diagnosis |
| spellingShingle | Diana Montezuma Ana Monteiro João Fraga Liliana Ribeiro Sofia Gonçalves André Tavares João Monteiro Isabel Macedo-Pinto Digital Pathology Implementation in Private Practice: Specific Challenges and Opportunities Diagnostics digital pathology WSI LIS artificial intelligence routine diagnosis |
| title | Digital Pathology Implementation in Private Practice: Specific Challenges and Opportunities |
| title_full | Digital Pathology Implementation in Private Practice: Specific Challenges and Opportunities |
| title_fullStr | Digital Pathology Implementation in Private Practice: Specific Challenges and Opportunities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Digital Pathology Implementation in Private Practice: Specific Challenges and Opportunities |
| title_short | Digital Pathology Implementation in Private Practice: Specific Challenges and Opportunities |
| title_sort | digital pathology implementation in private practice specific challenges and opportunities |
| topic | digital pathology WSI LIS artificial intelligence routine diagnosis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/12/2/529 |
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