Digital microscopy – the upcoming revolution in histopathology teaching, diagnostics, research and quality assurance

Histopathologists play key roles both in diagnosing disease entities and determining biomarkers related to the prognosis and response to specific therapy of malignant tumors. Histopathology is still firmly based on cell and tissue morphology supplemented with in situ molecular information and these together can be studied through the optical microscope. Digital microscopy creates the digital representation of the whole microscopic slides at decent quality, which can be dynamically viewed, navigated and magnified through the computer monitor as driven with the mouse, and shared though computer networks without spatial and temporal limitations. Digital slides can be integrated into existing hospital databases and accessed through intranet or the Internet for teaching, primary diagnosis, teleconsultation and quality assurance. Discrete pixels of calibrated qualities making up the slides allow automated image analysis and signal quantification for drawing unbiased conclusions both in diagnostic and research applications. Also, the integration of digital tissue microarray (TMA) slides and related sample data into common database permits high-throughput, validated studies of biomarker screening at low cost and high standards. Therefore, utilization of the full power of computer technology for easily accessing multiple functions and the Internet grants digital microscopy a great potential for upgrading the efficiency of the pathology workflow and of pathologists. With resolving the critical issues, including standardization of data formats, secure and fast internet communication and medico-legal aspects, digital microscopy is expected to play a revolutionary role in future histopathology. This chapter aims to highlight the specific functions and benefits of digital microscopy in several fields of this discipline.