From the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Drs Zarella and Absar); Pharma Services, Indica Labs, Inc, Corrales, New Mexico (Mr Bowman); Comparative Biology and Safety Sciences, Amgen, Inc, South San Francisco, California (Dr Aeffner); 3Scan, San Francisco, California (Dr Farahani); Barco, Inc, Beaverton, Oregon (Mr Xthona); the Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus (Dr Parwani); the Department of Anatomic Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida (Dr Bui); and the Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Dr Hartman).
Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2019 Feb;143(2):222-234. doi: 10.5858/arpa.2018-0343-RA. Epub 2018 Oct 11.
CONTEXT.—: Whole slide imaging (WSI) represents a paradigm shift in pathology, serving as a necessary first step for a wide array of digital tools to enter the field. Its basic function is to digitize glass slides, but its impact on pathology workflows, reproducibility, dissemination of educational material, expansion of service to underprivileged areas, and intrainstitutional and interinstitutional collaboration exemplifies a significant innovative movement with far-reaching effects. Although the benefits of WSI to pathology practices, academic centers, and research institutions are many, the complexities of implementation remain an obstacle to widespread adoption. In the wake of the first regulatory clearance of WSI for primary diagnosis in the United States, some barriers to adoption have fallen. Nevertheless, implementation of WSI remains a difficult prospect for many institutions, especially those with stakeholders unfamiliar with the technologies necessary to implement a system or who cannot effectively communicate to executive leadership and sponsors the benefits of a technology that may lack clear and immediate reimbursement opportunity.
OBJECTIVES.—: To present an overview of WSI technology-present and future-and to demonstrate several immediate applications of WSI that support pathology practice, medical education, research, and collaboration.
DATA SOURCES.—: Peer-reviewed literature was reviewed by pathologists, scientists, and technologists who have practical knowledge of and experience with WSI.
CONCLUSIONS.—: Implementation of WSI is a multifaceted and inherently multidisciplinary endeavor requiring contributions from pathologists, technologists, and executive leadership. Improved understanding of the current challenges to implementation, as well as the benefits and successes of the technology, can help prospective users identify the best path for success.
全玻片成像（WSI）代表了病理学领域的范式转变，是广泛应用数字工具进入该领域的必要第一步。它的基本功能是数字化载玻片，但它对病理学工作流程、可重复性、教育材料的传播、向贫困地区提供服务的扩展以及机构内部和机构间合作的影响，体现了具有深远影响的重大创新运动。尽管 WSI 给病理学实践、学术中心和研究机构带来了许多好处，但实施的复杂性仍然是广泛采用的障碍。在美国首次监管批准 WSI 用于初步诊断后，一些采用的障碍已经消除。然而，对于许多机构来说，实施 WSI 仍然是一个困难的前景，特别是对于那些利益相关者不熟悉实施系统所需技术的机构，或者无法向领导层和赞助商有效传达可能缺乏明确和直接报销机会的技术优势的机构。
介绍 WSI 技术的现状和未来，并展示 WSI 的几个即时应用，这些应用支持病理学实践、医学教育、研究和协作。
病理学家、科学家和技术专家审查了同行评议的文献，他们对 WSI 具有实际的知识和经验。
WSI 的实施是一项多方面的、固有的多学科努力，需要病理学家、技术专家和领导层的共同参与。更好地理解实施所面临的当前挑战以及该技术的优势和成功，可以帮助潜在用户确定成功的最佳路径。
