According to FutureWise analysis, Artificial Intelligence in Digital Pathology was US $ 0.33 billion in the year 2023-24, and is expected to reach around US $ 1.35 billion by the year 2032 at a CAGR of 17%.
The fusion of artificial intelligence and digital pathology is transforming the landscape for pathologists, offering them innovative validation and supplementary analysis tools. Imagine being able to process a greater number of slides in a fraction of the time! This powerful capability allows pathologists to zero in on specific regions of interest, ultimately enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of diagnostic outcomes.
Moreover, the integration of AI into digital pathology is reshaping the patient experience. With devices and applications now capable of accessing electronic health records, radiology images, and a wealth of other pertinent data, patients can become active participants in their treatment journeys.
Traditional pathology methods have been indispensable for diagnosing conditions, evaluating protein expressions, and classifying diseases. However, recent advancements in digital pathology—especially through whole slide imaging and AI-driven solutions—mark a significant leap forward. These cutting-edge techniques allow us to unearth insights that were previously hidden from the naked eye. This is especially valuable in areas like drug development and translational research within the field of immuno-oncology, where understanding complex pathophysiology, discovering new biomarkers, and identifying therapeutic targets can lead to groundbreaking discoveries.
As treatment options continue to multiply for various conditions, the challenge for practitioners is to determine the optimal course of action for each unique patient. Fortunately, the rise of AI-based methods is further expanding our understanding of the tumor microenvironment. Digital strategies for patient stratification and selection for diagnostic tests empower healthcare providers to craft personalized treatment plans tailored to individual patient profiles. This shift not only enhances the precision of care but also holds the promise of more effective therapies that can truly make a difference in patients' lives.
As the demand for pathology services grows, so does the use of technological advances to automate and digitise healthcare procedures. In recent years, these advancements have accelerated research and clinical diagnosis, as well as improved patient outcomes. One such technology is AI-powered digital imaging, which has transformed the pathology industry by enabling high-throughput scanning of patient samples. To put it another way, AI-based digital pathology / AI pathology entails collecting, managing, analysing, and sharing data (via digital slides) in a digital setting. By scanning conventional glass slides with a scanning device, digital slides are created that can be viewed on a computer screen or a mobile device and provide a high-resolution digital image. Furthermore, AI pathology offers a viable solution for managing the growing pathology workload while also ensuring more rapid and consistent diagnostic services and research activities. Besides that, AI-powered digital pathology solutions (digital pathology scanners and software) enable pathologists to examine more cases and provide more precise diagnoses. As the utilization of AI is increased it also has become problematic for pathologist to handle the technology. Pathologists in hospitals, previously received glass slides and viewed them with a light microscope, but now they must learn an AI-based method to view diagnostic results. Up to 50% of pathologists are concerned about signing reports based solely on digital slides, and they are concerned about reporting without the instrument that has long been associated with their profession. This factor can be viewed as a challenge for the market due to the decrease in the number of pathologists working in digital pathology.