Documentation of surgical specimens using digital video technology.
BACKGROUND
Digital technology is commonly used for documentation of specimens in anatomic pathology and has been mainly limited to still photographs. Technologic innovations, such as digital video, provide additional, in some cases better, options for documentation.


OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the applicability of digital video to the documentation of surgical specimens.


METHODS
A Canon Elura MC40 digital camcorder was used, and the unedited movies were transferred to a Macintosh PowerBook G4 computer. Both the camcorder and specimens were hand-held during filming. The movies were edited using the software iMovie. Annotations and histologic photographs may be easily incorporated into movies when editing, if desired.


RESULTS
The finished movies are best viewed in computers which contain the free program QuickTime Player. Movies may also be incorporated onto DVDs, for viewing in standard DVD players or appropriately equipped computers. The final movies are on average 2 minutes in duration, with a file size between 2 and 400 megabytes, depending on the intended use. Because of file size, distribution is more practical via CD or DVD, but movies may be compressed for distribution through the Internet (e-mail, Web sites) or through internal hospital networks.


CONCLUSIONS
Digital video is a practical, easy, and affordable methodology for specimen documentation, permitting a better 3-dimensional understanding of the specimens. Discussions with colleagues, student education, presentation at conferences, and other educational activities can be enhanced with the implementation of digital video technology.
Melín-Aldana
Héctor
H
Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Ill 60614, USA. h-melin@northwestern.edu
Carter
Barbara
B
Sciortino
Debra
D
D004282:Documentation / Q000379:methods*; D004501:Education, Medical; D006801:Humans; D010336:Pathology / Q000379:methods*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D013672:Technology / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D014741:Video Recording