Fifty Years of Hematopathology: From Morphology to AI

In this episode, Prof. Robin Foà and Dr. Filippo Milano arejoined by Prof. Stefano Pileri, one of the world's leading hematopathologistsand a key contributor to the WHO Classification of Hematolymphoid Tumors.Inspired by his recent book, *Wheredo we come from? What are we? Where are we going? A journey through theevolution of Pathological Anatomy over the last half century*, theconversation retraces the remarkable evolution of hematopathology—from the eraof purely morphological diagnosis to the integration of molecular technologiesand artificial intelligence. The discussion explores the milestones that transformed thefield, including the introduction of immunohistochemistry, the discovery ofdisease-defining biomarkers such as CD30, and the transition toward moleculardiagnostics and next-generation sequencing. These advances have progressivelyreduced diagnostic subjectivity while enabling increasingly precise diseaseclassification and the development of targeted therapies. A central theme of the episode is the growing need for highlyspecialized reference centers. As diagnostic techniques become moresophisticated, accurate pathological assessment has become essential not onlyfor selecting the most appropriate therapy but also for avoiding unnecessarytreatments and optimizing healthcare resources. The speakers also emphasize theimportance of multidisciplinary collaboration, where pathologists andclinicians combine increasingly complex biological data to guide patient care. Looking to the future, the discussion turns to digitalpathology, telepathology, and artificial intelligence. While AI promises toimprove standardization and diagnostic consistency, it is seen as a tool thatwill support—rather than replace—the expertise and clinical judgment ofexperienced pathologists. A thoughtful conversation on how technologicalinnovation has transformed hematopathology and how it will continue to shapeprecision medicine in the years ahead.