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.

Conclusion: Though limited in functionalities, the developed system is effective and can be downloaded at the address http://mitel.dimi.uniud.it/timan/.