Iranian Researchers Develop Slide Scanners for Detecting Breast Cancer

Whole slide imaging (WSI) – also known as virtual microscopy or Whole Slide Scanning – is a rather young technology to digitally scan and archive whole slides in high resolution. During scanning, images are taken of each field of view across the entire microscopy slide. Simultaneously, the images are stitched together by the whole slide imaging software to create a single digital image file in full resolution. These whole slide images can then be stored for archiving and documentation, and it can also be shared for consultation and for teaching purposes.

“This company is operating in the production of pathology slide scanners for detecting suspected breast cancer areas,” Mohammad Arghavani, one of the researchers at the technological company said.

“With this product, the doctor does not need to be present in the laboratory to scan and examine the slide, but can scan the slide once and can extract pathology slide information anytime and anywhere with internet access,” the researcher said.

He pointed to the image annotation, the measurement of sensitive points, and the possibility of providing a valid report for probabale cancer areas as other advantages of the domestically produced scanner, adding, "This device has been commercialized and is currently employed in pathology laboratories."

Meanwhile, Arghavani said that the scanner is capable of scanning samples of all organs, including breast, lung, prostate, and small and large intestine, adding, “The diagnostic part of the machine is currently activated for breast cancer, and more data and images are needed for its development. That is why we are studying to be able to use this scanner to detect other types of cancers.”

According to the researcher, the precision of scanning is at the highest level as it is able to detect with 92% accuracy.

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