Department of Pathology, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Canada.
Mod Pathol. 2010 Mar;23(3):349-58. doi: 10.1038/modpathol.2009.190. Epub 2010 Jan 15.
Informatics can be defined as using highly advanced technologies to improve patient diagnosis or management. Pathology informatics had evolved as a response to the overwhelming amount of information that was available, in an attempt to better use and maintain them. The most commonly used tools of informatics can be classified into digital imaging, telepathology, as well as Internet and electronic data mining. Digital imaging is the storage of anatomical pathology information, either gross pictures or microscopic slides, in an electronic format. These images can be used for education, archival, diagnosis, and consultation. Virtual microscopy is the more advanced form of digital imaging with enhanced efficiency and accessibility. Telepathology is now increasingly becoming a useful tool in anatomical pathology practice. Different types of telepathology communications are available for both diagnostic and consultation services. The spectrum of applications of informatics in the field of anatomical pathology is broad and encompasses medical education, clinical services, and pathology research. Informatics is now settling on solid ground as an important tool for pathology teaching, with digital teaching becoming the standard tool in many institutions. After a slow start, we now witness the transition of informatics from the research bench to bedside. As we are moving into a new era of extensive pathology informatics utilization, several challenges have to be addressed, including the cost of the new technology, legal issues, and resistance of pathologists. It is clear from the current evidence that pathology informatics will continue to grow and have a major role in the future of our specialty. However, it is also clear that it is not going to fully replace the human factor or the regular microscope.
信息学可以被定义为使用高度先进的技术来改善患者的诊断或管理。病理学信息学的发展是为了应对可用信息量的巨大增长，试图更好地利用和维护这些信息。信息学最常用的工具可以分为数字成像、远程病理学以及互联网和电子数据挖掘。数字成像将解剖病理学信息以电子格式存储，无论是大体图片还是显微镜载玻片。这些图像可用于教育、存档、诊断和咨询。虚拟显微镜是数字成像的更高级形式，具有更高的效率和可访问性。远程病理学现在越来越成为解剖病理学实践中的有用工具。有多种类型的远程病理学通信可用于诊断和咨询服务。信息学在解剖病理学领域的应用范围广泛，包括医学教育、临床服务和病理学研究。信息学现在作为病理学教学的重要工具已经站稳了脚跟，数字化教学在许多机构已经成为标准工具。在缓慢起步之后，我们现在见证了信息学从研究领域向床边的过渡。随着我们进入广泛应用病理学信息学的新时代，必须解决一些挑战，包括新技术的成本、法律问题以及病理学家的抵制。从目前的证据来看，病理学信息学将继续发展，并在我们专业的未来发挥重要作用。然而，很明显，它不会完全取代人为因素或常规显微镜。
