Background
The Edinburgh Dermatopathology and Haematopathology Tutorials are two-day learning seminars, held annually in Edinburgh, Scotland since 2010 and 2012 respectively. They are highly-regarded continuing education events, which attract delegates from around the world, primarily consultants and senior academic researchers, with a mix of general pathologists and subspecialists in hematopathology and dermatopathology.
The Tutorials are designed to provide a practical approach to specialist topics in hematopathology and dermatopathology, with expert speakers presenting a variety of unusual and challenging cases in their areas of specialty. The aim is to update delegates on a broad range of problem areas pertinent to hematological malignancy or skin pathology diagnostics, and equip them to take a practical approach towards resolving diagnostic dilemmas they may encounter in routine practice.
The Challenge
Due to the focus on practical case discussion, the courses cater to a limited number of participants each year in order to provide the best interactive experience for all delegates. Demand for the Tutorials has continued to rise, with delegate numbers increasing from 50 in 2011 to 80 in 2015, as well as a waiting list for places most years. Initially, glass slides and microscopes were used to present the cases. However, the logistics of using microscopes became ever more challenging. Challenges included sourcing instruments and materials for all delegates, storing microscopes both before and after the Tutorials, selecting a venue with sufficient space for the instruments, as well as additional time required for set up and breakdown. The decision was made to trial digital pathology as a potential replacement for glass. The Tutorial organizers, Dr. John Goodlad and Dr. Thomas Brenn, invited Leica Biosystems to demonstrate a digital pathology system to delegates at the 2011 Dermatopathology Tutorial. The organizers decided that digital pathology was an optimal platform for delivering the course content, as well as removing the logistical challenges of using microscopes, and allowing for greater flexibility in choosing a venue. Other vendors were considered, however on the basis of image quality, an agreement was reached with Leica Biosystems to provide digital pathology services.Going Digital
Digital pathology was first implemented for the Edinburgh Haematopathology Tutorial in 2012, and the following year its use was extended to the Dermatopathology Tutorial. In advance of each year’s Tutorials, the speakers send their glass slides, a mix of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining, to the Leica Biosystems office in Dublin, Ireland for digitization. Currently an Aperio AT2 scanner is used to capture digital images of the slides at 40x magnification. Typically there are 100 – 200 slides for each Tutorial per year, so the 400 slide capacity and 98% first time success rate of the Aperio AT2 are advantageous in performing the scanning efficiently. The digital slides are uploaded to a cloud hosting server managed by Leica Biosystems, where they are made available for viewing via Aperio eSlide Manager software, along with limited case data. Original glass slides are then returned to the speakers by courier service.>> Download the full Application Note as PDF
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