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| TECHNICAL NOTE |
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| J Pathol Inform 2016,
7:31 |
NDER: A novel web application using annotated whole slide images for rapid improvements in human pattern recognition
Nicholas P Reder, Daniel Glasser, Suzanne M Dintzis, Mara H Rendi, Rochelle L Garcia, Jonathan C Henriksen, Mark R Kilgore
Department of Pathology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| Date of Submission | 17-Jan-2016 |
| Date of Acceptance | 30-May-2016 |
| Date of Web Publication | 26-Jul-2016 |
Correspondence Address:
Nicholas P Reder
Department of Pathology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195
USA
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/2153-3539.186913
 Abstract | | |
Context: Whole-slide images (WSIs) present a rich source of information for education, training, and quality assurance. However, they are often used in a fashion similar to glass slides rather than in novel ways that leverage the advantages of WSI. We have created a pipeline to transform annotated WSI into pattern recognition training, and quality assurance web application called novel diagnostic electronic resource (NDER). Aims: Create an efficient workflow for extracting annotated WSI for use by NDER, an attractive web application that provides high-throughput training. Materials and Methods: WSI were annotated by a resident and classified into five categories. Two methods of extracting images and creating image databases were compared. Extraction Method 1: Manual extraction of still images and validation of each image by four breast pathologists. Extraction Method 2: Validation of annotated regions on the WSI by a single experienced breast pathologist and automated extraction of still images tagged by diagnosis. The extracted still images were used by NDER. NDER briefly displays an image, requires users to classify the image after time has expired, then gives users immediate feedback. Results: The NDER workflow is efficient: annotation of a WSI requires 5 min and validation by an expert pathologist requires An additional one to 2 min. The pipeline is highly automated, with only annotation and validation requiring human input. NDER effectively displays hundreds of high-quality, high-resolution images and provides immediate feedback to users during a 30 min session. Conclusions: NDER efficiently uses annotated WSI to rapidly increase pattern recognition and evaluate for diagnostic proficiency. Keywords: Adaptive learning, pathology education, smartphone, web application, whole-slide images
How to cite this article:
Reder NP, Glasser D, Dintzis SM, Rendi MH, Garcia RL, Henriksen JC, Kilgore MR. NDER: A novel web application using annotated whole slide images for rapid improvements in human pattern recognition. J Pathol Inform 2016;7:31 |
How to cite this URL:
Reder NP, Glasser D, Dintzis SM, Rendi MH, Garcia RL, Henriksen JC, Kilgore MR. NDER: A novel web application using annotated whole slide images for rapid improvements in human pattern recognition. J Pathol Inform [serial online] 2016 [cited 2017 Jul 28];7:31. Available from: http://www.jpathinformatics.org/text.asp?2016/7/1/31/186913 |
| Introduction | |  |
Our institution has a database of whole-slide images (WSIs) used at interdepartmental clinical conferences (i.e., tumor boards) and educational seminars. These WSI have great potential for education [1],[2] and quality assurance; [3],[4] however, they must be further annotated and classified to be of greatest benefit. One potential use of these WSI is to improve rapid pattern recognition (RPR). RPR or so-called "fast thinking" is a key attribute of experienced pathologists. [5] The most established method to improve RPR among trainees is to encounter a large number of cases during residency. [6] However, there are additional methods for improving RPR that can be used in parallel to clinical duties during residency.
One promising method for improving histopathology pattern recognition is perceptual and adaptive learning techniques. [7] These techniques take advantage of preattentive processing, the phenomenon of forming a quick (<200 ms) impression of an image. [7] Herein, the term RPR is used to refer to this phenomenon, although many terms are used across multiple disciplines in the literature. [5],[7],[8],[9]
We envisioned a system that would take advantage of our large WSI database to improve novice trainees' RPR skills. We developed a web application called novel diagnostic electronic resource (NDER) that uses still images extracted from annotated WSI, and engages users with an adaptive learning algorithm to improve trainees' RPR or "fast thinking" skills.
Our goals for this project:
- Create an efficient workflow for annotating 2000 × 2000 pixel regions of interest (ROI) from a large database of WSI
- Preserve annotation labels and create a pipeline to route images for use by NDER
- Create NDER, a user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing web application that provides high-throughput training for RPR.
| Materials and Methods | | |
Annotation of Whole-Slide Image
We chose intraductal proliferative breast lesions (IPLs) for our first NDER module because they represent a challenging biological spectrum with important ramifications for patient care. [10] Examples of IPLs were selected from our database, which contains over 4,400 WSI. The WSI were scanned at ×20 magnification using an Aperio ScanScope CS (Leica Biosystems Imaging, Inc., Vista, CA, USA) digital whole-slide scanner. A 2 nd -year resident, who had completed a subspecialty breast pathology rotation, annotated (defined herein as outlining and labeling ROI) the WSI using Aperio ImageScope software (Leica Biosystems Imaging, Inc., Vista, CA, USA). Each ROI was labeled with one of five categories: No intraductal proliferation (NIP), usual ductal hyperplasia (UDH), atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), and a binary classification of carcinoma in-situ defined as low to intermediate grade ductal carcinoma in-situ (LGDCIS) and intermediate to high grade ductal carcinoma in-situ (HGDCIS).
Extraction of Still Images from Annotated Whole-Slide Image
Two methods for extracting still images and creating a large database of labeled images were compared:
- Extraction Method 1: Manual extraction of still images from WSI and subsequent validation of each still image by four breast pathologists
- Extraction Method 2: Validation of annotated regions on the WSI by a single experienced breast pathologist and automated extraction of still images tagged by diagnosis.
We determined that Extraction Method 1 would require validation by multiple pathologists because the still images are removed from the context of the slide. We used the literature as a guide to the level of pathologist agreement needed to qualify a still image as correctly classified. A study [11] of still images of ulcerative-colitis associated dysplasia, an entity of similar diagnostic challenge to IPLs, showed interobserver agreement ranging from poor to good (kappa coefficient 0.18-0.54). Assuming a kappa at the lower end (0.2), we estimated that four pathologists would agree on an "incorrect" classification only 2% of the time, an acceptable level of error.
NDER must be highly automated to be a practical solution for RPR training. Thus for Extraction Method 2, we built an automated pipeline to extract still images from annotated WSI [Figure 1]. Custom software was written in the CodeIgniter PHP framework (Utilizing Aperio ImageServer APIs) to authenticate, read annotations stored in the WSI database, and extract ROI as jpeg images from the WSI. The jpeg image files were labeled using a "uniqueid-annotation label" format when extracted. This file labeling scheme allowed us to sort the jpeg image files into a well-organized database to be used in our web application. | Figure 1: Slide annotation, whole-slide image are annotated with the following disease labels: No intraductal proliferation, usual ductal hyperplasia, atypical ductal hyperplasia, low to intermediate grade ductal carcinoma in-situ , or intermediate to high grade ductal carcinoma in-situ . An automated pipeline extracted still images from the annotated whole-slide image into a well-organized database to be used in our web application
Click here to view |
Novel Diagnostic Electronic Resource, the Web Application
NDER is a web-based application written in PHP and JavaScript with an SQL database and utilizes components of the Bootstrap HTML (http://getbootstrap.com), CSS, and JS framework for responsive display on mobile devices. The welcome page [Figure 2] shows the active module, an about section, and contact information. A toolbar at the top of the page allows the user to choose the module they wish to complete. After choosing the module, the user selects "begin test" and selects his/her level of training (student, resident, fellow, etc.). The module begins with an untimed "pretest" consisting of twenty images with multiple-choice options corresponding to the disease categories, in this example IPLs of the breast. | Figure 2: Welcome page, the welcome page shows information regarding the active module, an about section, and contact information. The toolbar at the top of the page allows the user to choose the module he/she wishes to complete
Click here to view |
After completing the "pretest," the user proceeds to the "training module." The training module consists of images that are displayed for a specified amount of time, and then disappear [Figure 3]. The user must choose from the same multiple-choice options as in the pretest (NIP, UDH, ADH, LGDCIS, HGDCIS). After choosing the disease category, the image re-appears and the user are given instant feedback [Figure 4]. The user's selection and the correct answer are displayed next to the image. The user then moves onto the next image. The amount of time the image displays is variable (range: 1.5-10 s) depending on the user's performance. An adaptive algorithm decreases the image display time of each subsequent image with increasing user accuracy to maintain user engagement. | Figure 3: Training module, example screenshots from the novel diagnostic electronic resource intraductal proliferative breast lesion module. An image is displayed on the screen for a short time (range 1.5-10 s). The image disappears after time has expired and the user must choose from the available multiple - choice options. The user is given instant feedback on their selection and can move onto the next image. A progress bar is displayed at the top of the page
Click here to view |
 | Figure 4: Feedback page, after completing the pretest, training module, and posttest, a feedback page is displayed. There is a thumbnail of each image, the correct answer, and the response given. Users can click each thumbnail to expand the image for further study. The yellow arrow indicates the thumbnail image that has been expanded
Click here to view |
The user takes an untimed twenty image "posttest" after finishing the training module, and a feedback page is displayed. The feedback page contains a thumbnail of each image, the correct answer, and the response given. Users can click each thumbnail to expand the image for further study.
Novel diagnostic electronic resource can be used on multiple devices
RPR training lends itself well to short training sessions and is thus a good fit for mobile phones. We enabled users to take advantage of NDER on their mobile phones using a responsive image CSS class in the Bootstrap HTML, CSS, and JS framework. This feature allows for seamless integration with mobile phones and tablet devices of all sizes, allowing users to train with NDER anytime in any place with an internet connection.
| Results | | |
Extraction Method 1: The resident performing the annotation required 2 min on average to annotate and extract each image (200 images in total). Four experienced breast pathologists categorized each of the 200 images, taking on average 30 min to categorize all 200 images. Although the agreement was "substantial, [12]" (Fleiss' kappa = 0.63), only 101 images remained after removal of discordant images.
Extraction Method 2: The resident required 5 min to annotate one WSI with an average of 6.4 ROI. Validation by an experienced pathologist took 1 min per WSI. All other steps were automated.
[Table 1] compares the average time to annotate, extract, and validate 200 images using each method. Extraction Method 2 was almost an order of magnitude more efficient than Extraction Method 1 for creating our database of labeled jpeg images. Absolute time saving was greater for the resident portion of the workflow using Extraction Method 2. Relative efficiency gains were similar for both attendings and residents. The resulting NDER breast module takes users 25-30 min to complete and displays 240 images. Qualitative feedback from initial users regarding website design, usability, and interactivity has been very positive.
[Table 2] displays the result of a pilot study involving ten users including four novice trainees (medical students and junior residents), four senior trainees (senior residents and fellows), and two attending pathologists. Users of all experience levels showed increased accuracy in the posttest compared to the pretest, with novice trainees showing the largest gains. The overall accuracy improved from 53% pretest to 83% posttest, a statistically significant result (P < 0.0001, paired t-test). The effect size (Cohen's d = 2.11) was very large, where 0.2 is a small effect, 0.5 moderate, and 0.8 large.
| Discussion | | |
NDER is a novel web application for improving RPR. A 25-30 min high-yield NDER training module can be created in roughly 3 h (resident: Two hours, attending: One hour). The training module can be accessed via desktop computer, tablet device, or mobile phone web browsers and responds to device screen size. A pilot study of ten users demonstrated large increases in accuracy from pre- to post-test. Qualitative feedback from initial users has been positive, focusing on intuitive design, usability, and responsive display features. One issue highlighted by users was image display latency caused by web connection bottlenecks.
Training in pathology consists of training in both "slow" and "fast" thinking. Discussion at the double-headed microscope, didactic lectures, and textbooks are common methods for teaching pathology. All these methods target deliberate or "slow" thinking. The only current strategy for teaching "fast" thinking or RPR is seeing a large volume of cases during residency. [13] NDER is a novel tool for RPR to be used in parallel to traditional residency training. Previous studies using electrocardiograms have shown that a combination of pattern-based and feature-based instruction performs better than either method alone. [9] We believe NDER, in combination with traditional methods, will enhance residency education through improvement of residents' histopathologic intuition.
There are many high-quality digital tools developed for pathology training including examples in medical education, [14] histology, [7],[15] and cytopathology. [15] However, none of the currently available tools specifically target RPR. The closest analog to NDER is the excellent introductory histopathology training module developed by Krasne et al. [7] This tool shows images of basic pathologic processes, forces users to choose an answer within 24 s, and gives immediate, succinct feedback. In contrast, NDER forces the user to choose an answer in as little as 1.5 s or at most 10 s, depending on performance. The brief time period forces users to focus solely on improving the accuracy of their initial impression of the image. Improved accuracy of this initial impression, or intuition, has never been targeted for pathology training by a digital tool (to our knowledge). An additional advantage of the brief period is an increased volume of images viewed by the user.
NDER has applications to pathology beyond resident and medical student education. Quality assurance and quality improvement are particularly intriguing areas for future modules. For example, we are currently creating a module for breast prognostic/predictive immunohistochemical markers in hopes of decreasing both inter- and intra-observer variability in the interpretation of 2013 CAP/ASCO human epidermal growth receptor 2 (HER2) immunohistochemistry (IHC) guidelines. [16] Current evidence suggests an increase in the number of "equivocal 2+" interpretations since the release of the revised guidelines in 2013, [17] some of which may be related to overinterpretation. We hope NDER will help train pathologists to accurately separate IHC HER2 protein expression into the appropriate category (0, 1+, 2+, 3+) as defined by the guidelines. [16] Such a module would decrease costs for pathology departments by decreasing the number of unnecessary reflex HER2 fluorescence in situ hybridization tests in cases better interpreted as either negative or positive. Additional quality assurance and improvement applications are being explored, of which the possibilities are essentially endless.
One current limitation of NDER includes the use of still images rather than WSI for the pre- and post-test phases of the module. We have begun work on integrating WSI into the pre- and post-test phases for a more accurate assessment of actual pathology practice. Incorporation of WSI will investigate how context affects interpretation when users can evaluate an entire slide rather than an isolated static image. The addition of WSI will be of particular interest in borderline lesions such as the distinction of ADH and LGDCIS, in which size and span may be the limiting factor in differentiating these two entities. [18],[19]
In the future, we aim to create an open-access version of NDER available to anyone with an internet connection. NDER relies on a well-curated and annotated database of WSI, which is available to users at only a select group of institutions. We envision a system where collaborators from across the world can contribute annotated WSI for the creation of a broad range and depth of modules.
| Conclusions | | |
NDER is a novel web app that uses annotated WSI to rapidly improve pattern recognition and evaluate for diagnostic proficiency. It has wide applicability to education, training, and quality assurance. In the near future, we envision an open-access platform where NDER modules can be created from annotated WSI from collaborators across the world, including experts in their fields.
Financial Support and Sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of Interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
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[Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3], [Figure 4]
[Table 1], [Table 2]
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