An image analysis workstation for the pathology laboratory

Abstract

Computer-based image analysis (IA) is a technology gaining importance in diagnostic pathology. Applications of IA in pathology include DNA ploidy analysis, quantitative immunohistochemistry, three-dimensional reconstruction of tissue sections, motility studies, and chromosomal analysis. Morphometry, the quantitative measurement of size, shape, and textural features of cells and tissues, is another rapidly developing area of IA in pathology. Morphometric IA allows the objective evaluation of subtle histologic and cytologic features to yield useful diagnostic and prognostic information. Research is currently underway to develop diagnostically useful applications of morphometric IA. Several image analysis workstations designed for the pathology laboratory are currently available. However, the high cost and software inflexibility of these instruments are prohibitive to many potential users limiting the practicality of IA and hindering research. We present a relatively inexpensive pathology IA workstation assembled from commercially available hardware and software components. System features and basic image processing methods are described. A variety of practical applications for the surgical pathology laboratory are illustrated, including spatial measurements of tumors, nerve and muscle biopsy evaluation, and nuclear morphometry for classification of lymphoid effusions and hepatocellular carcinoma.