A small reduction in control tissue size yields a significant reduction in digital image storage cost

Abstract

As digital pathology is becoming more prevalent, the cost of image storage becomes factor to consider. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of reducing the tissue size of frequently scanned slides on digital whole slide image file size and file storage cost. We investigated the file sizes of our most commonly scanned slides – the daily special stain controls. The average file size of these stains ranges from 109 to 476 MB. All of the Masson trichrome slides, Movat pentachrome slides, and PAS slides were reviewed from 2015, and the tissue measurements and file sizes were recorded. New, smaller control tissue blocks were created. Once scanned, the tissue measurements and file sizes were also recorded. Overall, we reduced the size of the tissue on the slide by an average of 74%. We calculate that for these three control tissues alone, $3465 in storage costs could be saved every year by reducing the size of the tissue on the slide.