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Comparative Study
. 2021 Mar;478(3):535-540.
doi: 10.1007/s00428-020-02907-4. Epub 2020 Aug 25.

Discrepancies in digital hematopathology diagnoses for consultation and expert panel analysis

Michiel van den Brand  1   2 , Peet T G A Nooijen  3 , Kimberly D van der Laan  4 , Peter C de Bruin  5 , A M Gijs van Leeuwen  3 , Jan Willem Leeuwis  6 , Jos W Meijer  6 , Irene Otte-Höller  4 , Konnie M Hebeda  4
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Discrepancies in digital hematopathology diagnoses for consultation and expert panel analysis

Michiel van den Brand et al. Virchows Arch. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Digital pathology with whole-slide imaging (WSI) has a large potential to make the process of expert consultation and expert panel diagnosis more rapid and more efficient. However, comparison with the current methods is necessary for validation of the technique. In this study, we determined if digital assessment of whole-slide images of hematopathology specimens with a focus on the assessment of lymphoma can be used for consultation and panel diagnostics. Ninety-three histological specimens with a suspicion for lymphoma were assessed both with conventional microscopy and digital microscopy with a wash out period between assessments. A consensus diagnosis was based on full concordance between the pathologists or, in case of discordances, was reached at a joint session at a multi-headed microscope. In 81% of the cases, there was a full concordance between digital and light microscopical assessment for all three pathologists. Discordances between conventional microscopy and digital pathology were present in 3% of assessments. In comparison with the consensus diagnosis, discordant diagnoses were made in 5 cases with digital microscopy and in 3 cases with light microscopy. The reported level of confidence and need for additional investigations were similar between assessment by conventional and by digital microscopy. In conclusion, the performance of assessment by digital pathology is in general comparable with that of conventional light microscopy and pathologists feel confident using digital pathology for this subspecialty.

Keywords: Consultation; Digital pathology; Hematopathology; Lymphoma.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow of the study, showing the timing of the different assessments and evaluation of the different levels of concordance
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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