Digital Image Analysis of Immunohistochemistry CD103 Using QuPath Software in Acral Melanoma

Abstract

Background: Nowadays, pathology services are more developed for quantitative diagnostic evaluation. The quantitative diagnostic evaluation requires detailed accuracy and can be done using digital image analysis (DIA). Assessment of the CD103 in acral melanoma needs to be done quantitatively. A visual microscopy evaluation of CD103 has difficulties in counting CD103 positive lymphocytes. These difficulties are due to the expression of CD103, which is very little, whereas the field of view of the tumor mass is considered quite exhaustive when viewed under a microscope. The evaluation of CD103 could be done digitally with the DIA technique to overcome these difficulties. The DIA technique is carried out automatically by counting the lymphocytes that express CD103 with bioimage analysis software. QuPath is one of the bioimage analysis software, has characteristics of cross-platform, intended for bioimage analysis and digital pathology. This study aims to compare the CD103 count by visual microscopy evaluation and DIA in acral melanoma. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study. CD103 immunostained slides of 40 cases of acral melanoma were eyeballing assessed by two pathologists and automated digital images analyzed by one pathologist using QuPath. Results: Wilcoxon signed ranks test showed no significant difference between the visual microscopy evaluation and DIA of CD103 count (p = 0,580). Conclusions: Digital image analysis using QuPath can be used to count the CD103 automatically.