Virtual microscopy

I n this issue of the Journal of Clinical Pathology, we describe an atlas of breast histopathology, implemented with web based virtual microscopy. The article highlights the advantages of virtual microscopy compared with traditional methods for producing educational material in histopathology. The described slide scanning and viewing technology will also enable novel applications, such as large scale quality assurance programmes, virtual slide seminars, and virtual slides as supplements to scientific publications. In this editorial, we describe current and future applications of virtual microscopy, and we discuss how the technology could be refined to allow even further applications in diagnostic pathology.