Skip to main content

Digital Pathology’s Past to Present

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Digital Pathology

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Computer Science ((BRIEFSCOMPUTER))

  • 1290 Accesses

Abstract

Digital pathology is a rapidly growing field that did not even exist 20 years ago. However, in some ways, its origins date back to the earliest attempts at telepathology back in the 1960s. This chapter provides a brief historical perspective on how digital pathology came to be. It answers questions like why does it exist and what need does it fulfill? It also provides a brief summary of current applications and the challenges ahead; explains why we believe digital pathology is rapidly coming of age; and describes the converging factors that lead us to this conclusion.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Barbareschi, M., Demichelis, F., Forti, S., Dalla Palma, P.: Digital pathology: science fiction? Int. J. Surg. Pathol. 8, 261–263 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Danielsen, H.E., Kildal, W., Sudbo, J.: Digital image analysis in pathology—exemplified in prostatic cancer. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 120, 479–488 (2000). Article in Norwegian

    Google Scholar 

  3. Saltz, J.H.: Digital pathology—the big picture. Hum. Pathol. 31, 779–780 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ferreira, R., Moon, B., Humphries, J. et al. The virtual microscope. In: Proceedings of AMIA Annual Fall Symposium, 1997, pp. 449–453

    Google Scholar 

  5. Demichelis, F., Barbareschi, M., Dalla Palma, P., Forti, S.: The virtual case: a new method to completely digitize cytological and histological slides. Virchows. Arch. 441, 159–164 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Rojo, M.G.: State of the art and trends for digital pathology. Stud. Health Technol. Inform. 179, 15–28 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Huisman, A.: Digital pathology for education. Stud. Health Technol. Inform. 179, 68–71 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Slodowska, J., Garcia-Rojo, M.: Digital pathology in personalized cancer therapy. Stud. Health Technol. Inform. 179, 143–154 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Song, Y., Treanor, D., Bulpitt, A.J., Magee, D.R.: 3D reconstruction of multiple stained histology images. J. Pathol. Inform. 4, S7 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Wells, C.A., Sowter, C.: Telepathology: a diagnostic tool for the millennium? J Pathol. 191, 1–7 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Coleman, R.: Can histology and pathology be taught without microscopes? The advantages and disadvantages of virtual histology. Acta Histochem. 111, 1–4 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Hersh, W.: A stimulus to define informatics and health information technology. BMC Med. Inform. Decis. Mak. 9, 24 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Prakel, D.: The Visual Dictionary of Photography, p. 91. AVA Publishing, New York (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Pantanowitz, L.: Digital images and the future of digital pathology. J. Pathol. Inform. 10, 1 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Barnett, G.O., Castleman, P.A.: A time-sharing computer system for patient-care activities. Comput. Biomed. Res. 1, 41–51 (1967)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Barnett, G.O.: History of the development of medical information at the Laboratory of Computer Science at Massachusetts General Hospital. In: Blum, B.I., Duncan, K. (eds.) In A History of Medical Informatics, pp. 141–153. AMC Press, New York (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Park, S.L., Pantanowitz, L., Sharma, G., Parwani, A.V.: Anatomic pathology laboratory information systems: a review. Adv. Anat. Pathol. 19, 81–96 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Teorey, T.J., Lightstone, S.S., Nadeau, T., et al.: Database Modeling and Design: Logical Design, 5th edn. Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, Waltham (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Lemke, H.U.: A network of medical work stations for integrated word and picture communication in clinical medicine. Technical Report. Berlin, Technical University (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Capp, M.P., Nudelman, S.: Photoelectronic radiology department. Proc. SPIE 314, 2–8 (1981)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Weinstein, R.S., Bloom, K.J., Rozek, L.S.: Telepathology and the networking of pathology diagnostic services. Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 111, 646–652 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Weinstein, R.S.: Prospects for telepathology. Hum. Pathol. 17, 433–434 (1986)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Weinstein, R.S., Bhattacharyya, A.K., Yu, Y.P., et al.: Pathology consultation services via the Arizona-International Telemedicine Network. Arch. Anat. Cytol. Pathol. 43, 219–226 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Furness, P.N.: The use of digital images in pathology. J. Pathol. 183, 253–263 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Pantanowicz, L., Szymas, J., Yagi, Y., and Wilbur, D. Whole slide imaging for educational purposes. J. Pathol. Inform., vol 3. (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Williams, S., Henricks, W.H., Becich, M.J., Toscano, M., Carter, A.B.: Telepathology for patient care: what am I getting myself into? Adv. Anat. Pathol. 17, 130–149 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Elder, J.K., Green, D.K., Southern, E.M.: Automatic reading of DNA sequencing gel autoradiographs using a large format digital scanner. Nucleic Acids Res. 14, 417–424 (1986)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Jaggi, B., Poon, S.S., MacAulay, C., Palcic, B.: Imaging system for morphometric assessment of absorption or fluorescence in stained cells. Cytometry 9, 566–572 (1988)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Montague, P.R., Meyer, M., Folberg, R.: Technique for the digital imaging of histopathologic preparations of eyes for research and publication. Ophthalmology 102, 1248–1251 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Schenk, M.P., Manning, R.J., Paalman, M.H.: Going digital: image preparation for biomedical publishing. Anat. Rec. 257, 128–136 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Velleman, S.G.: Quantifying immunoblots with a digital scanner. Biotechniques 18, 1056–1058 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Krupinski, E.A.: Optimizing the pathology workstation “cockpit”: challenges and solutions. J. Pathol. Inform. 1, 19 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Judkins, A.R.: Digital pathology: a tool for 21st century neuropathology. Brain Pathol. 19, 305 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Silage, D.A., Gil, J.: Digital image tiles: a method for the processing of large sections. J. Microsc. 138, 221–227 (1985)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Westerkamp, D., Gahm, T.: Non-distorted assemblage of the digital images of adjacent fields in histological sections. Anal. Cell Pathol. 5, 235–247 (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Wilbur, D.C.: Digital cytology: current state of the art and prospects for the future. Acta Cytol. 55, 227–238 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. McKay, R.R., Baxi, V.A., Montalto, M.C.: The accuracy of dynamic predictive autofocusing for whole slide imaging. J. Pathol. Inform. 2, 38 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Montalto, M.C., McKay, R.R., Filkins, R.J.: Autofocus methods of whole slide imaging systems and the introduction of a second-generation independent dual sensor scanning method. J. Pathol. Inform. 2, 44 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. CFR—Code of Federal Regulations Title 21. U.S. Food and Drug Administration 2014

    Google Scholar 

  40. Al-Janabi, S., Huisman, A., Van Diest, P.J.: Digital pathology: current status and future perspectives. Histopathology 61, 1–9 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Chantrain, C.F., DeClerck, Y.A., Groshen, S., McNamara, G.: Computerized quantification of tissue vascularization using high-resolution slide scanning of whole tumor sections. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 51, 151–158 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Kalinski, T., Zwonitzer, R., Sel, S., et al.: Virtual 3D microscopy using multiplane whole slide images in diagnostic pathology. Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 130, 259–264 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Varga, V.S., Ficsor, L., Kamaras, V., et al.: Automated multichannel fluorescent whole slide imaging and its application for cytometry. Cytometry A. 75, 1020–1030 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Martina, J.D., Simmons, C., Jukic, D.M.: High-definition hematoxylin and eosin staining in a transition to digital pathology. J. Pathol. Inform. 2, 45 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Webster, J.D., Michalowski, A.M., Dwyer, J.E., et al.: Investigation into diagnostic agreement using automated computer-assisted histopathology pattern recognition image analysis. J. Pathol. Inform. 3, 18 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Bautista, P., Yagi, Y.: Digital simulation of staining in histopathology multispectral images: enhancement and linear transformation of spectral transmittance. J. Biomed. Opt. 17, 05601310 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Tani, S.: Color standardization system implementing estimation method for absorption spectra of dye. Anal. Cell Pathol. 34, 180 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  48. Yagi, Y.: Color standardization and optimization in whole slide imaging. Diagn. Pathol. 6, S15 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Keller, B., Chen, W., Gavrielides, M.A.: Quantitative assessment and classification of tissue-based biomarker expression with color content analysis. Arch. Pathol Lab. Med. 136, 539–550 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Nederlof, M., Watanabe, S., Burnip, B., Taylor, D.L., Critchley-Thorne, R.: High-throughput profiling of tissue and tissue model microarrays: combined transmitted light and 3-color fluorescence digital pathology. J. Pathol. Inform. 2, 50 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Hipp, J., Cheng, J., Pantanowitz, L., et al.: Image microarrays (IMA): digital pathology’s missing tool. J. Pathol. Inform. 2, 47 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Feldman, M.D.: Beyond morphology: whole slide imaging, computer-aided detection, and other techniques. Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 132, 758–763 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  53. Nanda, R.: Targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in the treatment of breast cancer: recent advances and future directions. Rev. Recent Clin. Trials 2, 111–116 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Bautista, P.A., Hashimoto, N., Yagi, Y.: Color Standardization in whole slide imaging using a color calibration slide. J. Pathol. Inform. 5, 4 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Hedvat, C.V.: Digital microscopy: past, present, and future. Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 134, 1666–1670 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  56. Dennis, T., Start, R.D., Cross, S.S.: The use of digital imaging, video conferencing, and telepathology in histopathology: a national survey. J. Clin. Pathol. 58, 254–258 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Isaacs, M., Lennerz, J.K., Yates, S., et al.: Implementation of whole slide imaging in surgical pathology: a value added approach. J. Pathol. Inform. 2, 39 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Tsuchihasi, Y.: Expanding application of digital pathology in Japan—from education, telepathology to autodiagnosis. Diagn. Pathol. 6, S19 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Ho, J., Parwani, A., Jukic, D.M., et al.: Use of whole slide imaging in surgical pathology quality assurance: design and pilot validation studies. Hum. Pathol. 37, 322–331 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Johnson, D.E.: NightHawk teleradiology services: a template for pathology? Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 132, 745–747 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  61. Cornish, T.C., Swapp, R.E., Kaplan, K.J.: Whole-slide imaging: routine pathologic diagnosis. Adv. Anat. Pathol. 19, 152–159 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Evans, A., Sinard, J.H., Fatheree, L.A., Henricks, W.H., Carter, A.B., Contis, L., et al.: Validating whole slide imaging for diagnostic purposes in pathology: recommendations of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) pathology and laboratory quality centre. Anal. Cell. Pathol. 34, 174 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  63. Singh, R., Chubb, L., Pantanowitz, L., Parwani, A.: Standardization in digital pathology: supplement 145 of the DICOM standards. J. Pathol. Inform. 2, 23 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. Yagi, Y., Rojo, M.G., Kayser, K., et al.: The first congress of the international academy of digital pathology: digital pathology comes of age. Anal. Cell Pathol. Amst. 35, 1–2 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. McClintock, D.S., Lee, R.E., Gilbertson, J.R.: Using computerized workflow simulations to assess the feasibility of Whole Slide Imaging full adoption in a high volume histology laboratory. Anal. Cell Pathol. 34, 182–184 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  66. Amin, M., Sharma, G., Parwani, A.V., et al.: Integration of digital gross pathology images for enterprise-wide access. J. Pathol. Inform. 3, 10 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  67. Wang, F., Oh, T.W., Vergara-Niedermayr, C., Kurc, T., Saltz, J.: Managing and querying whole slide images. Proceedings of SPIE. pp. 83190J, (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  68. Wang, Y., Williamson, K.E., Kelly, P.J., James, J.A., Hamilton, P.W.: SurfaceSlide: a multitouch digital pathology platform. PLoS One 7, e30783 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. Hamilton, P.W., Wang, Y., McCullough, S.J.: Virtual microscopy and digital pathology in training and education. APMIS 120, 305–315 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  70. Schwartz, J.: Expanding the lab’s reach with digital pathology. MLO Med. Lab. Obs. 43, 41 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yves Sucaet .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Sucaet, Y., Waelput, W. (2014). Digital Pathology’s Past to Present. In: Digital Pathology. SpringerBriefs in Computer Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08780-1_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08780-1_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-08779-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-08780-1

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics