Application of informatics in the work of a pathologist: guidelines for learning how to create and use a digital archive of gross images

Abstract

Pathology informatics has been developing as a response to a large amount of diagnostically relevant morphological information and attempt to the best store and use it. The main components of pathology informatics include digital images of histological slides and gross photographs, telepathology, and electronic data collection. Photo documentation of gross specimens is an integral part for efficient work of a pathologist. Currently, many grossing stations are equipped with continuously recording video cameras. A logical and detailed description of the macroscopic specimens, supported by properly obtained digital photographs, should be the standard of a modern pathology report. However, with the increasing workload of the pathologists, they have less and less time to take gross photographs. That is why, in our opinion, it is important to ask questions such as: what is necessary to photograph, how to take a photo of the gross specimen, and in which order? There are only a few publications on this topic in both domestic and foreign literature. This paper attempts to summarize the literary data on this topic, based on which a list of medical use cases that require a mandatory photo documentation has been created. Practical recommendations have been developed and are outlined for gross photographs. In the context of widespread use of digital photography as a resource for deep learning of neural networks and digital analysis, this article will be useful not only for postgraduate education of pathologists, but also for physicians of other specialties.