Evaluation and Analysis of Histopathological Microscopy Image Using Picture Archiving and Communications System

• Main Authors: Hsu-Wei Hung, 洪旭偉
• Other Authors: SSeng-Cho Chou
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/41686241543871674488

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 高階公共管理組 === 96 === Advancement of digital technology in combination with lower cost of computer storage equipment, high resolution monitor and printer, Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) has been successively implemented in a number of hospitals over a decade in Taiwan. Today, PACS plays an essential role in the hospital information system. Many medical images in different departments have been transferred into PACS system using the protocol of Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM), a common standard for transmission and storage of medical images. There are only a few of departments that do not use PACS to store their images like department of pathology. In this essay, SWOT method was used to study the potential market and technical bottleneck in digital pathology. The method of Porter’s 5 Force was used to study relationships among competitors, customers, suppliers, potential competitors, substitutes, and PACS developer in digital pathology. As a major tool for pathological examination, microscope plays an important role in digital pathology. In this essay, two different methods were used for digital pathology. The first method is to use a photo camera on microscope to take the images of pathological sample in the slide based on a pathologist decision. The other method is to scan the sample in a glass slide and to create seamless true color digital images stored in the computer. Pathologist can then view different sections with various magnification of histopathology sample in the slide on computer screen. Images from both methods were transformed into PACS system. Comparisons in easiness to use, and the cost benefit between these two methods were evaluated by pathologists and researchers in the pathology department. Large memory requirement for the image in a virtual pathology slide in the PACS is the biggest challenge as discussed in this essay. However, virtual microscopy has many advantages as compared with traditional slide in pathology. Virtual slide can be accessed from the web, transportable media, or a network server used for image archiving and distribution. Within an internal network of a hospital or pathology department, virtual slides can be used for a variety of tasks, such as case meetings, slide seminars, and didactic live audience presentations. Through the web, virtual slides can be widely used in the pathology education and in inter-laboratory quality control programs. Even though PACS developer doest not put much of its efforts in digital pathology for the time being, it shall watch the development of virtual slide technology very closely. In order to take the advantage in this business, a PACS developer company can build its PACS system in digital pathology in collaboration with medical pathologists and researchers in pathology and related departments.