A web-based system for tissue microarray data management.
BACKGROUND
Tissue Microarray is a novel technique for analysing large amounts of immunohistochemically stained specimens. However, those large amounts make it difficult to design, prepare and analyze a tissue microarray, so that software support is almost inevitable.


METHODS
We designed a tissue microarray data management system starting from specifications obtained by pathologists, and arranged for a preliminary validation in thyroid pathology.


RESULTS
A web-based system has been developed, basing on open-source software and principles, that was well accepted by pathologists and allowed to carry out a study on 52 thyroid pathology cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Though limited in functionalities, the developed system is effective and can be downloaded at the address http://mitel.dimi.uniud.it/timan/.
Della Mea
Vincenzo
V
Medical Informatics and telemedicine Lab, Dept. of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Udine, Italy. dellamea@dimi.uniud.it
Bin
Irene
I
Pandolfi
Maura
M
Di Loreto
Carla
C