ABSTRACT
Pathologists are specialized MDs who identify diseases (e.g., cancer, infectious diseases, genetic disorders) by studying tissues and cells under a microscope. Pathology samples contain vast amounts of information that must be assimilated into a diagnosis. It is not uncommon for different pathologists to arrive at different diagnoses while looking at the same sample, potential ly compromising patient care. In addition to being subjective, microscopic inspection in pathology is expensive because a highly paid pathologist (not a technician) reads the slide. In the context of an aging population, fewer residents selecting pathology as a sub-specialty, and increasing malpractice litigation, there is a pressing need for pathologists to be highly productive and for their diagnoses to be as objective as possible.
