Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), recent research has secured UK government approval for the utilization of digital pathology, expediting the analysis of cancer screening samples. This advancement is particularly beneficial for bowel, breast, lung, and cervical cancer screenings. Based on investigations conducted by University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust and The University of Warwick’s Clinical Trials Unit, this technological implementation promises swifter reporting of individuals' samples, contributing to the delivery of top-notch healthcare.
Histopathology, a pivotal step in numerous major disease pathways with a crucial role in early cancer detection, involves the microscopic examination of cells and tissues. Digital pathology employs automated slide scanners to digitize this histopathology process. Results are reported on computer workstations rather than traditional microscopes, allowing pathologists to analyze samples remotely from the laboratory that produces the slides.
This digital transformation not only facilitates easier sharing of samples, reducing the risk of loss or damage, but also enables pathologists to review slides remotely, eliminating the necessity for their physical presence in hospitals. The digitization of slides may also pave the way for the utilization of computer algorithms to enhance pathologists’ performance in the future.
After a consultation by the UK National Screening Committee, the UK Government has officially sanctioned the use of digital pathology for the analysis of cancer screening samples.
Lead Researcher and Consultant Pathologist Professor David Snead, from UHCW and The University of Warwick, expressed delight at the clearance for digital pathology in cancer screening programs. He emphasized the significance of achieving this milestone and credited the collective effort of the team involved in the study, acknowledging the support from various stakeholders and highlighting the substantial data produced to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of this technology.
Professor Janet Dunn, lead for the Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, commended the UK Government's recognition of the research's importance and the subsequent approval of digital pathology for screening. The collaboration with Professor David Snead on this pivotal study was acknowledged as a positive experience.
The study, funded by NIHR and supported by the University of Warwick’s Clinical Trials Unit, involved six NHS hospitals. The aim was to demonstrate equivalence in pathologists' reporting using digital pathology compared to the current standard of light microscopy across various specialties. Sixteen pathologists participated in the study, reporting on anonymous samples in their respective fields using both digital pathology and light microscopy, resulting in a total of 16,192 reports created during the study.
