Telepathology includes different modes of operation for remote diagnosis. Among these, telemicroscopy (TM) that regards the use of a remote microscope driven by a pathologist located at a distance, is receiving increasing attention. Aim of this study was to assess the performance of a static telemicroscopy system (STMS) as a remote frozen section service. Features of a STMS include near real-time still-image transmission, provision of a low-magnification overview image, “navigation” through the tissue at any desired optical magnification, recording in a multimedia record of all the data relative to the diagnostic session allowing the reconstruction of the steps performed by the pathologist in rendering diagnosis. Fifty-three consecutive frozen section cases were examined by 3 expert pathologists. Each pathologist examined all the cases twice, first by TM and then by conventional light microscopy (LM). The pathologist could render the diagnosis (positive or negative) or defer the case. Single slide session time was registered, distinguishing among microscope setting time, video images capture and transmission time, and pathologist’s viewing time. Overall concordance between the diagnosis rendered by TM and LM was 91%. Compared with the truth diagnosis established by a consensus panel, concordance were 88% and 95% for TM and LM, respectively. The deferral rate was 5.8% and 4% for TM and LM, respectively. Average session time for TM was 7.9 min per slide. Preliminary results suggest that a STMS can be a useful and user friendly tool for a remote frozen section service
A feasibility study of a static telemicroscopy system for a remote frozen section service
Demichelis, Francesca;Eccher, Claudio;
1999-01-01
Abstract
Telepathology includes different modes of operation for remote diagnosis. Among these, telemicroscopy (TM) that regards the use of a remote microscope driven by a pathologist located at a distance, is receiving increasing attention. Aim of this study was to assess the performance of a static telemicroscopy system (STMS) as a remote frozen section service. Features of a STMS include near real-time still-image transmission, provision of a low-magnification overview image, “navigation” through the tissue at any desired optical magnification, recording in a multimedia record of all the data relative to the diagnostic session allowing the reconstruction of the steps performed by the pathologist in rendering diagnosis. Fifty-three consecutive frozen section cases were examined by 3 expert pathologists. Each pathologist examined all the cases twice, first by TM and then by conventional light microscopy (LM). The pathologist could render the diagnosis (positive or negative) or defer the case. Single slide session time was registered, distinguishing among microscope setting time, video images capture and transmission time, and pathologist’s viewing time. Overall concordance between the diagnosis rendered by TM and LM was 91%. Compared with the truth diagnosis established by a consensus panel, concordance were 88% and 95% for TM and LM, respectively. The deferral rate was 5.8% and 4% for TM and LM, respectively. Average session time for TM was 7.9 min per slide. Preliminary results suggest that a STMS can be a useful and user friendly tool for a remote frozen section serviceI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
