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Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research

Validation of diagnostic accuracy using digital slides in routine histopathology

Authors: László Fónyad, Tibor Krenács, Péter Nagy, Attila Zalatnai, Judit Csomor, Zoltán Sápi, Judit Pápay, Júlia Schönléber, Csaba Diczházi, Béla Molnár

Published in: Diagnostic Pathology | Issue 1/2012

Abstract

Background

Robust hardware and software tools have been developed in digital microscopy during the past years for pathologists. Reports have been advocated the reliability of digital slides in routine diagnostics. We have designed a retrospective, comparative study to evaluate the scanning properties and digital slide based diagnostic accuracy.

Methods

8 pathologists reevaluated 306 randomly selected cases from our archives. The slides were scanned with a 20× Plan-Apochromat objective, using a 3-chip Hitachi camera, resulting 0.465 μm/pixel resolution. Slide management was supported with dedicated Data Base and Viewer software tools. Pathologists used their office PCs for evaluation and reached the digital slides via intranet connection. The diagnostic coherency and uncertainty related to digital slides and scanning quality were analyzed.

Results

Good to excellent image quality of slides was recorded in 96%. In half of the critical 61 digital slides, poor image quality was related to section folds or floatings. In 88.2% of the studied cases the digital diagnoses were in full agreement with the consensus. Out of the overall 36 incoherent cases, 7 (2.3%) were graded relevant without any recorded uncertainty by the pathologist. Excluding the non-field specific cases from each pathologist's record this ratio was 1.76% of all cases.

Conclusions

Our results revealed that: 1) digital slide based histopathological diagnoses can be highly coherent with those using optical microscopy; 2) the competency of pathologists is a factor more important than the quality of digital slide; 3) poor digital slide quality do not endanger patient safety as these errors are recognizable by the pathologist and further actions for correction could be taken.

Virtual slides

The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1913324336747310.

Available only for authorised users

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Title: Validation of diagnostic accuracy using digital slides in routine histopathology
Authors: László Fónyad
Tibor Krenács
Péter Nagy
Attila Zalatnai
Judit Csomor
Zoltán Sápi
Judit Pápay
Júlia Schönléber
Csaba Diczházi
Béla Molnár
Publication date: 01-12-2012
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Diagnostic Pathology / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1746-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-1596-7-35

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Validation of diagnostic accuracy using digital slides in routine histopathology

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Virtual slides

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Virtual slides

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