Interactive and automated application of virtual microscopy

Abstract

Virtual microscopy can be applied in an interactive and an automated manner. Interactive application is performed in close association to conventional microscopy. It includes image standardization suitable to the performance of an individual pathologist such as image colorization, white color balance, or individual adjusted brightness. The steering commands have to include selection of wanted magnification, easy navigation, notification, and simple measurements (distances, areas). The display of the histological image should be adjusted to the physical limits of the human eye, which are determined by a view angle of approximately 35 seconds. A more sophisticated performance should include acoustic commands that replace the corresponding visual commands. Automated virtual microscopy includes so-called microscopy assistants which can be defined similar to the developed assistants in computer based editing systems (Microsoft Word, etc.). These include an automated image standardization and correction algorithms that excludes images of poor quality (for example uni-colored or out-of-focus images), an automated selection of the most appropriate field of view, an automated selection of the best magnification, and finally proposals of the most probable diagnosis. A quality control of the final diagnosis, and feedback to the laboratory determine the proposed system. The already developed tools of such a system are described in detail, as well as the results of first trials. In order to enhance the speed of such a system, and to allow further user-independent development a distributed implementation probably based upon Grid technology seems to be appropriate. The advantages of such a system as well as the present pathology environment and its expectations will be discussed in detail.

Clinical validation of the gastrointestinal NET grading system: Ki67 index criteria of the WHO 2010 classification is appropriate to predict metastasis or recurrence

“…Ki67 indices were calculated as a percentage of Ki67 positive cells in 500—2000 cells that were counted in areas of strongest nuclear labeling (“hot spots”). Interactive virtual microscopy was performed to get standardized digital images [19]. Images were captured at ×15—×30 magnification, and computer-assisted cytometrical analysis of Ki67 immunoreactivity was performed using the WinRooF image processing software (Mitani Corp., Tokyo, Japan) [12,13,20-22].…”

CognitionMaster: an object-based image analysis framework

“…Plug-ins even may extend the image rendering to present additional image (meta) information e.g. image sharpness maps [25] or visited regions [26] in virtual slides, an emerging field of medical imaging [27]. Additionally, plug-ins may change the default behavior of the software (e.g.…”

The Pathologist 2.0: An Update on Digital Pathology in Veterinary Medicine

“…When using WSI, 2 applications need to be differentiated: interactive and automated VM. 32 Slide viewer software for interactive VM allows the user to explore the virtual slide actively comparable with LM and is generally provided free of charge by the vendors of slide scanners. In contrast, software for automated VM fully computerizes the analysis and is verified by the pathologist only after finalization of the task.…”