Challenges and Rewards of AI Software Applications in Pathology
The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and computational pathology provides new tools to bring automation to the practice of anatomic pathology. With the recent FDA approval of the first algorithm to determine the presence of prostate cancer in prostate needle biopsies, computational pathology has come a step closer for actual utilization by pathologists. To deploy algorithms in clinical practice requires a large infrastructure in digital pathology and a change in operational workflows. I will discuss the key elements that are needed for digital sign-out and present data on clinical implementation of a commercial algorithm for evaluation of H&E slides and calibration of a commercial algorithm for PD-L1. I will also briefly discuss regulatory considerations of digital pathology. Altogether, examples will be used to illustrate the state of the art of digital and computational pathology and the challenges that exist for clinical implementation of this new technology.
