Digital Pathology: Current Status and Prospects of Clinical Application

In recent years, with the progress of image processing and network transmission technology, digital pathology (DP) is being more and more extensive applied in clinical practice, and new artificial-intelligence-assisted diagnosis technology based on digital imaging is emerging. Being a widely-used mature field, telepathology is changing the temporal and spatial scope of pathological diagnosis through remote electronic transmission of digital images. Fully digitized pathology departments are realizing the transformation of diagnostic modes and workflow from microscopic diagnosis to digital image computer review, and there have already been successful examples of large-scale fully digitized pathology departments. However, there are still many problems in the implementation of DP, for example, the quality stability and cost of the scanner, the validation of the system, the reengineering of the workflow, the training of pathologists and the change of their perception of DP, which all await further improvement. Although artificial intelligence diagnostic technology is showing great potential, its application in pathological work is still limited to the field of auxiliary diagnostics, and there is still a long way to go to the realization of comprehensive intelligent pathology. The rise of DP will bring about a profound change in the way of how pathological work is done and become a solid foundation for intelligent pathology.