[Digital, DICOM, diagnostics-unity over chaos : Data communication in digital pathology].

Journal: Pathologie (Heidelberg, Germany)
Published Date: Nov 29, 2025

Abstract

Digitization of histological specimens enables new computer-assisted analysis and artificial intelligence (AI)-supported diagnostics, but is hampered by a lack of standards. Interoperability between proprietary formats and clinical systems such as the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) or Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) poses a particular challenge. The Digital Imaging and COmmunications in Medicine (DICOM) format, adapted from radiology, offers an open, vendor-independent solution that integrates image data, metadata, and analysis results and enables interoperable exchange. A literature review shows a growing number of publications on digital and computer-assisted pathology, with DICOM increasingly being discussed as a key format. With an open-source, modular Docker pipeline, we demonstrate the practical implementation of DICOM-compliant workflows for storing and visualizing whole slide images and AI results. This creates the basis for standardized, transparent, and trustworthy digital pathology.

Authors

  • Christoph Blattgerste
    Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
  • Maximilian Legnar
    Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
  • Cleo-Aron Weis
    Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany.

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