XML-Based Virtual Slide Box for Teaching Histology and Pathology

Jeffrey Fine MD, Richard Prayson, MD, Pavel Ermakov MS, Walter Henricks MD

Table of Contents

Virtual Slide Boxes

  1. Cardiovascular Histology
  2. Respiratory Histology
  3. Renal and Urinary Tract Histology
  4. Musculoskeletal Histology
  5. Neurohistology
  6. Gastrointestinal
  7. Reproductive
  8. Endocrine
  9. Hematopoiesis and Lymphoid
  10. Skin

Abstract (back to top)

Background
Virtual microscopy (VM), the use of digital imaging to produce "digital slides" that simulate light microscopy, is increasingly utilized in undergraduate and graduate medical education. Effective maintenance of digital slide collections is labor-intensive but is necessary for optimal use and accessibility. We have devised, using commercially available software, an XML-based method for creation and maintenance of digital slide collections, termed virtual slide boxes, for teaching histology and pathology.

Technology
The VM software (Neuroinformatica, MicroBrightField Inc., Williston, VT) includes a digital slide database, XML export capability, and slide viewing and annotation software. Virtual slide boxes developed utilize HTML, active server pages (ASP), XML, extensible stylesheet language (XSL), and XML path language (XPATH). The database contains greater than 700 digital slides, obtained from The University of Iowa and from our institution.

Design
All digital slides in the database are labeled according to a structured naming convention that was devised. The slide database is periodically exported to an XML file. Scripts were developed that analyze the XML file to select relevant digital slides, then display the results in HTML. The structured, consistent naming convention ensures that, for example, all slides labeled "Skin," will be included in the Skin slide box. Digital slides are subdivided within each virtual slide box into normal histology and pathology categories.

Results
The XML-based virtual slide boxes are now an important component of the new medical school curriculum at our institution. Changes or updates to the slide database are reflected in the exported XML file, and the dynamically generated slide boxes are therefore updated without further user intervention.

Conclusion
XML-based techniques have provided a simple, powerful solution to the otherwise daunting task of organizing and maintaining virtual slide boxes, and in doing so have facilitated the use of virtual microscopy for teaching histology and pathology. The method described is a real-world example of XML used as a bridge between two different systems, a virtual microscopy system and an online medical school curriculum.

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References (back to top)

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