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Background <p>Digital pathology (DP) offers significant advantages in diagnostic efficiency and reproducibility. However, its implementation in low-resource settings remains challenging due to cost, infrastructure limitations, and workflow constraints.</p> Objective <p>To describe the implementation and validation of a digital pathology workflow in a high-volume laboratory in Northeastern Brazil, highlighting strategies for deployment in a low-cost environment.</p> Methods <p>A midrange scanner (MoticEasyScan®) was integrated with the laboratory information system (apLIS®) to support whole slide imaging (WSI) for hematoxylin and eosin (H&amp;E) stained and ancillary slides. The workflow was redesigned to include technical infrastructure upgrades and staff training. Validation followed CAP guidelines and included 384 slides from 64 cases, evaluated by two pathologists using both digital and physical formats.</p> Results <p>Concordance between digital and traditional diagnoses reached 98.72%, with near-perfect interobserver agreement (Kappa = 0.928 and 0.958; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Challenges included limited scanner throughput, storage demands (~ 12&#xa0;TB/quarter), and variable monitor quality. Despite these constraints, the laboratory successfully digitized 60% of its routine workload, facilitating case review, image sharing, and research expansion.</p> Conclusion <p>This study demonstrates the feasibility of implementing digital pathology in resource-limited settings using cost-effective solutions and workflow optimization. The validated process offers a scalable model for similar laboratories, with potential to integrate artificial intelligence tools in future diagnostic applications.</p>

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Implementation of digital pathology in a low-resource setting: opportunities and challenges

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年9月20日

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  • Guilherme Velozo,
  • Juliana Cordeiro,
  • Cleto Nogueira,
  • Andre Teixeira,
  • Igor Costa,
  • Fabiana Vigatto,
  • Fábio Távora

摘要

Background

Digital pathology (DP) offers significant advantages in diagnostic efficiency and reproducibility. However, its implementation in low-resource settings remains challenging due to cost, infrastructure limitations, and workflow constraints.

Objective

To describe the implementation and validation of a digital pathology workflow in a high-volume laboratory in Northeastern Brazil, highlighting strategies for deployment in a low-cost environment.

Methods

A midrange scanner (MoticEasyScan®) was integrated with the laboratory information system (apLIS®) to support whole slide imaging (WSI) for hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained and ancillary slides. The workflow was redesigned to include technical infrastructure upgrades and staff training. Validation followed CAP guidelines and included 384 slides from 64 cases, evaluated by two pathologists using both digital and physical formats.

Results

Concordance between digital and traditional diagnoses reached 98.72%, with near-perfect interobserver agreement (Kappa = 0.928 and 0.958; p < 0.05). Challenges included limited scanner throughput, storage demands (~ 12 TB/quarter), and variable monitor quality. Despite these constraints, the laboratory successfully digitized 60% of its routine workload, facilitating case review, image sharing, and research expansion.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the feasibility of implementing digital pathology in resource-limited settings using cost-effective solutions and workflow optimization. The validated process offers a scalable model for similar laboratories, with potential to integrate artificial intelligence tools in future diagnostic applications.