Abstract
This book is divided into four sections: Technological Advances; Applications in Teaching, Applications in Diagnosis, and Applications in Research. Section I provides an overview of the different types of technology available for virtual histology, histopathology, and cytology. The ideal products of virtual microscopy are defined, along with in-depth descriptions of optics, slide scanning methods and computer platforms. Terminology is well explained, and qualities of the ideal image, system and interface are outlined. The systems of DMetrix digitalEyepiece,® Aperio (ScanScope,® ImageScope™), MicroBright Field Virtual Slice System, Virtual Telemicroscope, Trestle Digital Backbone™ (MedMicroscopy™), and MicroScreen (CytoView™) are described in Chapters 2 through 7. A few chapters read a bit like an advertisement, thus drawbacks of the system may not be clearly stated. Otherwise, this is an excellent resource to compare and contrast the available systems. Section II, Applications in Teaching, will be of high value to veterinary faculty who teach veterinary students and pathology residents. Of historical note, Chapter 8 provides a review of the use of microscopy, microscopic anatomy and histopathology in medical education from the late 1700s to present day. Also within this section are reviews of teaching and assessment methodology employed during transitions from glass sides to a combination of glass and virtual slides at several medical institutions. This section underscores the importance of assessment and scholarship of teaching in the development and implementation of any new pedagogy, in this case, virtual microscopy. Similarly, Chapter 12 describes how virtual microscopy may serve the changing needs of pathology residency training; this chapter will be of interest to all who are involved with residency training, for human and veterinary pathology. Section III describes applications in diagnosis, such as robotic imaging, telepathology in Europe, and the Department of Telemedicine at the AFIP. Comparisons to the history and development of teleradiology are made throughout the book. Section IV is the shortest section, with three chapters on applications of virtual microscopy in research.
This book is valuable to anyone who wishes to know more about virtual microscopy and essential for institutions that may be choosing among the available virtual microscopy systems. It provides a much needed common ground for all users with definitions, explanations and well described methods of utilization and assessment. This book would be valuable to all departments that are responsible for the teaching of histology, histopathology and cytology. Students who have used this technology to learn histology as freshmen will undoubtedly expect the same learning tools to be available to learn histopathology. A theme in the education chapters is that virtual slides are not meant to replace microscopes, but to make more efficient use of labs and student study time. In other words, virtual microscopy helps make the teaching of diagnostic content more efficient and repeatable.
Although most of the contributors to this book are physicians or are involved with the training of physicians or medical pathologists, this book has much to offer to all of us who use histology, histopathology or cytology. Two veterinary pathology websites are described in the book; the Department of Telemedicine at the AFIP is described by Dr. Bruce Williams in Chapter 17, and the Virtual Slidebox of Veterinary Cancer Histopathology is described by Dr. Fred Dee in Chapter 9.
This is the first edition of this book, from the series Advances in Pathology, Microscopy, and Molecular Morphology. The book originated from the first symposium on virtual slides held in Charleston, South Carolina in September 2002. Given the recent availability of this technology, this book is probably among the first on this topic. Multiplicity of authors, including innovators, educators, clinicians and researchers provides a wide range of view points and range of detail. The book is very readable, although there is overlap between chapters and sections. Therefore, it is better to chose a few chapters to get targeted information. Most illustrations are of high quality; a few chapters have images that are grainy or diagrams that are repeated elsewhere in the book. The references appear to be complete and up-to-date, and the index is adequate. The weakness of this book is the mild redundancy among chapters, but this may prove valuable to the reader who wants to read selected chapters about a new teaching or research method.