Can the Rapidly Evolving Digital Technology be Employed in the Surgical Pathology Lab? The Shifting Paradigm

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate and compare the efficacy of four devices for digital photographing of
gross specimens in Surgical Pathology lab. To assess the usefulness of magnifying apps,
currently available for mobile phones, in studying details of pathological specimens during their
gross examination.
Material and Methods: This comparative study was carried out from Nov. 2012 to Dec. 2012
Fifty specimens were photographed; some of these were received in Department of Pathology,
Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore, while others were from some private laboratories. Non
probability purposive sampling was used to include cases which were likely to reveal interesting
and comparable details. Four different devices namely Nikon Coolpix S-80, Apple iPhone 4,
Samsung Galaxy S Duos and Samsung Galaxy Note II loaded with “Magnify” app were used.
Results were compared subjectively regarding image resolution, sharpness, color accuracy, tone
reproduction, contrast, signal to noise ratio and overall usefulness. Nikon Coolpix S-80 served as
the reference index against which the other devices were assessed.
Results: All devices gave photographs of quality good enough to be used for scientific purposes.
iPhone occasionally surpassed Nikon in spite of its far more humble megapixel “score”. Samsung
Galaxy Note II with “Magnify” app revealed details that could render the conventional dissecting
microscopes obsolete. These findings are supported by other reports comparing different
devices, though none of these refers to photographing of pathological specimens.
Conclusion: In view of the widespread availability of digital cameras since their incorporation
into cell phones, it has become very feasible to photograph every specimen received in the
Surgical Pathology lab. Digital photography has removed, to a substantial extent, the constraints
of time, cost, labor and expertise involved in photographing. In conclusion, the causes for
conversion to this commandeering, contemporary technique are compelling, convincing and
countless.