Scanning New Horizons (in Digital Pathology)
How biomedical imaging technician Andrew Mullen championed the implementation of digital pathology across a large children's hospital
Clinical Scorecard: Scanning New Horizons (in Digital Pathology)
At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|
| Condition | Pediatric pathology diagnostics and research |
| Key Mechanisms | Digital scanning of pathology slides enabling remote access, image analysis, and data sharing |
| Target Population | Pediatric patients requiring pathology diagnostics and research support |
| Care Setting | Hospital pathology and laboratory medicine departments, research biobanks |
Key Highlights
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital has implemented prospective digital scanning for primary diagnosis since 2024 despite limited LIMS integration.
- Digital pathology enables remote collaboration, case review, tumor boards, and global research data sharing in pediatric pathology.
- Staffing, informatics integration, and contingency planning remain key challenges in digital pathology adoption.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
- Use digital pathology scanning to complement traditional glass slide review in pediatric pathology.
- Implement hybrid models scanning all slides first to provide digital access while maintaining glass slide availability.
Management
- Cross-train laboratory staff to cover scanning and digital pathology operations due to limited staffing.
- Plan contingencies for scanner failures, network outages, and software issues to ensure operational continuity.
Monitoring & Follow-up
- Validate digital scanners for primary diagnosis before clinical implementation.
- Monitor turnaround times to ensure digital pathology adoption does not negatively impact patient care.
Risks
- Potential delays or errors if digital pathology systems are not fully integrated with laboratory information management systems.
- Operational risks from hardware/software failures and limited informatics support.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Pediatric patients undergoing pathology evaluation
Digital pathology facilitates timely diagnosis and supports molecular profiling initiatives critical for pediatric oncology care.
Clinical Best Practices
- Adopt a hybrid digital pathology workflow to balance digital access with traditional slide review.
- Invest in staff training across clinical and informatics domains to support digital pathology operations.
- Engage in prospective validation and continuous quality monitoring of digital pathology systems.
- Leverage digital pathology to expand access to specialized pediatric pathology expertise remotely.
References
