"Slide less pathology": Fairy tale or reality?

Area of Science:

• Digital pathology
• Histopathology
• Medical imaging technology

Background:

• Pathology practice is rapidly advancing.
• Digitalization of histopathological slides is becoming feasible.
• Whole slide imaging (WSI) is a key technology in this digital transformation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the essential aspects of whole slide imaging (WSI).
• To highlight the impact of WSI on various fields.
• To address the current limitations in widespread WSI adoption.

Main Methods:

• Whole slide scanners are utilized for digitalization.
• Discussion of WSI's integration into pathology workflows.
• Review of current advancements and challenges.

Main Results:

• WSI offers significant advantages for routine pathology practice.
• WSI positively impacts research, medical education, and the bioindustry.
• The technology is poised to make pathology "slide-less" in the future.

Conclusions:

• Whole slide imaging (WSI) is a crucial upcoming technology in pathology.
• WSI has broad applications and benefits across multiple domains.
• Overcoming current barriers is key to widespread adoption of digital pathology.