Digital imaging of surgical specimens using a wet scanning technique.

AIM To develop a simple method of recording digital images of surgical specimens on to a personal computer (PC) for use in presentations for teaching and reporting of their pathology. METHODS A perspex box was constructed to international A4 size 100 mm deep. This box had a base of 3 mm clear perspex with sides and top of 5 mm white perspex. This box was partially filled with distilled water and a specimen immersed in it. It was then placed on top of a standard A4 scanner. The specimen was then scanned into a PC using image capture software. RESULTS The images produced showed noticeable improvement over normal photographs, especially with specimens prone to wet highlights. CONCLUSIONS The method has proved to be a rapid and efficient means of producing macroscopic images of surgical specimens.