AN IMAGE-ANALYSIS WORKSTATION FOR THE PATHOLOGY LABORATORY

Computer-based image analysis (IA) is a technology gaining importance in diagnostic pathology. Applications of IA in pathology include DNA p loidy analysis, quantitative immunohistochemistry, three-dimensional r econstruction of tissue sections, motility studies, and chromosomal an alysis. Morphometry, the quantitative measurement of size, shape, and textural features of cells and tissues, is another rapidly developing area of IA in pathology. Morphometric IA allows the objective evaluati on of subtle histologic and cytologic features to yield useful diagnos tic and prognostic information. Research is currently underway to deve lop diagnostically useful applications of morphometric IA. Several ima ge analysis workstations designed for the pathology laboratory are cur rently available. However, the high cost and software inflexibility of these instruments are prohibitive to many potential users limiting th e practicality of IA and hindering research. We present a relatively i nexpensive pathology IA workstation assembled from commercially availa ble hardware and software components. System features and basic image processing methods are described. A variety of practical applications for the surgical pathology laboratory are illustrated, including spati al measurements of tumors, nerve and muscle biopsy evaluation, and nuc lear morphometry for classification of lymphoid effusions and hepatoce llular carcinoma.