NORTHFIELD, Ill. (January 21, 2025) — Generative artificial intelligence (GAI) is emerging as a powerful tool across medicine, with the potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy, streamline workflows, and support education and research. A new article, “Generative Artificial Intelligence in Anatomic Pathology,” published in the Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine explores the significant promise the technology has in the various domains of anatomic pathology. The journal article is the fifth and final in a series of papers about GAI in pathology by members of the College of American Pathologists, Digital Pathology Association, and Association for Pathology Informatics.
“Pathology is entering a new era, where generative AI doesn’t just have the potential to assist pathologists — it should be able to efficiently amplify their expertise, transforming how diseases are diagnosed, treated, and understood,” said Victor Brodsky, MD, who is a lead author.
GAI offers advanced image analysis, providing clearer insights into tissue and cell structures. This can improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes, especially in cancer care.
Key Benefits of Generative GAI in Pathology:
Better Diagnoses: GAI-driven image analysis and virtual staining techniques can help diagnose diseases more accurately.
Efficient Workflows: Automating routine tasks and quality control can make lab operations more efficient.
Enhanced Education and Research: GAI tools used to produce synthetic histology images and other data can support AI and human training as well as academic research.
Clinical Integration: While surveys show pathologists are cautiously optimistic about using GAI for non-diagnostic tasks and research, validated decision support and case preparation via summarization and draft report creation can bring value to everyday clinical tasks.
The article also discusses challenges such as bias, data privacy, and the need for thorough validation. Ethical and regulatory considerations are crucial as GAI becomes part of clinical workflows. Collaboration among pathologists, data scientists, and policymakers is essential for safe and effective GAI integration.
“Generative AI offers exciting possibilities, but it’s important to adopt it thoughtfully and implement continuous validation to maintain trust and high standards of patient care in the coming age of ubiquitous AI agents,” said Dr. Brodsky.
As the final installment in a series on GAI in pathology, the discussion highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. By addressing challenges and using GAI responsibly, pathology can advance diagnostic precision, improve patient outcomes, and enhance health care delivery.
Read the full article in the Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine online.