A whole-slide imaging based workflow reduces the reading time of pathologists

Area of Science:

• Digital Pathology
• Histopathology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Whole slide images (WSIs) are increasingly adopted in diagnostics.
• Limited data exists on the impact of WSIs on pathologists' reading time.
• Assessing reading time differences between conventional and digital workflows is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the time required for microscopic assessment using conventional microscopy versus digitized WSIs.
• To quantify the time efficiency of digital pathology workflows in a real-world setting.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study was conducted at the Laboratory for Pathology Eastern Netherlands (LabPON).
• Pathologists' reading times were recorded for both conventional microscopy and a fully digital WSI workflow.
• Data was extracted from laboratory information system log files and image management systems.

Main Results:

• The digital workflow using WSIs saved time in most case categories.
• Prostate biopsies showed the most significant time savings (68% gain).
• An average time gain of 12.3% was observed across all case categories with the digital workflow.

Conclusions:

• Utilizing whole slide images (WSIs) instead of conventional microscopy substantially decreases pathologists' reading times.
• Full integration of digital workflows within laboratory information systems is essential to maximize efficiency gains.
• Digital pathology offers significant potential for optimizing diagnostic workflows and improving turnaround times.