Quantitative DNA ploidy analysis of breast carcinoma: a study of the effects of joint photographer experts group (JPEG) compression on DNA ploidy images.

Telepathology usage in the past has typically been a qualitative procedure rather than a quantitative measurement. DNA ploidy using image analysis has been favorably compared to DNA ploidy analysis by flow cytometry in numerous publications. A step from DNA ploidy analysis using conventional image analysis to DNA ploidy analysis using stored images allows DNA ploidy analysis by image cytometry to become a powerful tool in telepathology. Remote DNA ploidy analysis using stored images has an impact on the field of pathology, as not every hospital or laboratory can afford to perform this type of specialized testing. However, images have large data files and require lengthy transmission times over communication systems to other computers. Joint Photographer Experts Group (JPEG) compression is a computer algorithm that allows the file size of an image to be reduced in order to decrease transmission times to another computer. A study was initiated to investigate the effects of JPEG compression on images of Feulgen stained breast tumor touch preps and the resulting DNA ploidy histograms.