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Direct-to-patient mobile teledermoscopy is a feasible and useful adjunct to smartphone imaging for monitoring patient-identified lesions of concern, achieving comparable diagnostic and management accuracy as in-office dermatology.

Introduction: COVID-19 has led to delays in providing healthcare in both emergency and non-emergency settings, especially in surgical subspecialties which rely heavily on referrals and in-person visits. Without an established telehealth infrastructure, many otorhinolaryngological departments experienced decreases in consultations. Telemedicine has attempted to bridge the gap between pre- and post-pandemic periods by creating a safe avenue of communication between otorhinolaryngologists and patients. This review hopes to address the accuracy of telemedicine in patient diagnosis and management. Methods: Searches were conducted since study conception until June 30, 2022, on multiple databases including PubMed, SCOPUS, and CINAHL for this systematic review and meta-analysis. Diagnostic accuracy, management accuracy, kappa, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were meta-analyzed by comparing virtual visits to in-person visits (gold standard). Results: Nineteen studies were included in this review. A total of 1518 patients were included across all studies. When comparing virtual visits against in-person visits, accurate diagnosis was made in 86.2% [82.1,89.9, I 2 = 73.5%, P < 0.0001] of patients and management accuracy was 91.5% [86.1,95.7, I 2 = 81.8%, P < 0.0001] when treating patients. Kappa value determining interrater reliability was 0.8 [0.7,0.9, I 2 = 81.8%, P < 0.0001]. Conclusion: Our data suggest that diagnostic and management concordance is above 80% when comparing diagnosis and management strategies in patients who underwent both telehealth and in-person visits with an otorhinolaryngologist. In uncomplicated patients, telehealth might be a reliable source for diagnosis and management however, in-person consultation is likely still required for pathologies in which physical exam, imaging or procedural elements represent a vital component of the work-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the concordance of eating disorders (EDs) diagnoses within a multidisciplinary team in a specialized hospital unit dedicated to the medical care of ED. Methods: The study analyzed data from 608 female patients who sought consultation at the Eating Disorders Referral Center between 2017 and 2021. The diagnoses were established according to the DSM‐5 criteria by endocrinologists, psychiatrists, and finally confirmed or discussed within a monthly multidisciplinary consensus meeting (MCM). Fleiss' Kappa tests were conducted to assess inter‐raters' agreement. Results: Overall, substantial agreement was observed between endocrinologists and psychiatrists and the MCM. A more detailed analysis revealed variations in agreement across different disorders. Certain EDs demonstrated substantial agreement (e.g., anorexia nervosa restrictive subtype), while others approached near‐perfect agreement (e.g., binge‐eating disorder). In contrast, agreement was fair to poor for anorexia nervosa binge‐purge subtype (ANBP) and slight for other specified feeding and ED. A period of temporary disagreement was noted for ANBP, partially attributed to practitioner turnover. An improvement in interdisciplinary agreement was observed for all ED diagnoses by the end of the study period. Discussion: Variations or lower levels of inter‐rater agreement may stem from atypical cases that fall on the border between two diagnoses or complex cases, as well as fluctuating symptoms. The progress observed throughout the study can be attributed in part to interdisciplinary learning, particularly facilitated by the MCM. The findings underscore the significance of striving for optimal concordance among different medical specialties to enhance patient care in ED treatment. Public Significance: This study scrutinizes the agreement levels of ED diagnoses among endocrinologists and psychiatrists within a multidisciplinary team at an Eating Disorders Referral Center. While substantial overall agreement was achieved, disparities or lower agreement levels were evident for certain diagnoses such as anorexia nervosa binge‐purge subtype. However, collaborative meetings led to a progressive enhancement in agreement over time. This research underscores the crucial role of a multidisciplinary team working collectively to ensure precise diagnoses and improved care for patients with EDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A bone marrow trephine biopsy is a minor surgical procedure used to diagnose various haematological and non haematological diseases, such as leukaemia, multiple myeloma, and parasitic disorders like histoplasmosis and leishmaniasis. It is often performed alongside bone marrow aspiration to gather additional information about cellularity, the arrangement of marrow components, and the presence of focal diseases. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the recommended minimum adequate length for a trephine biopsy is ≥1.5 cm (before processing). Aim: To conduct an audit of trephine biopsy lengths and assess their diagnostic utility among adult patients. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study analysed all bone marrow biopsies from adult patients received at the Department of Pathology, Christian Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana, Punjab, India, over a three-year period (January 2019 to December 2021). The biopsies were categorised into three groups based on their length at the time of grossing: Group A (≥1.5 cm), Group B (1-1.4 cm), and Group C (0.5-0.9 cm). The length of each trephine biopsy was recorded and its diagnostic usefulness was evaluated. Results: The study included 1,155 trephine biopsies performed over the three-year period. Out of these, 1042, 97, and 16 biopsies were allocated to Groups A, B, and C, respectively. Biopsies meeting the recommended length (>1.5 cm) accounted for 90.2% of the cases. Longer biopsies were associated with a higher rate of conclusive diagnosis compared to shorter biopsies (p-value=0.02). However, when comparing Groups A and B individually, no significant difference was observed in terms of the conclusive diagnosis (p-value=0.9). Conclusion: Trephine biopsy is a vital tool for diagnosing haematological disorders, particularly focal lesions. Obtaining longer trephine biopsies should be emphasised, as they contribute to a more definitive diagnosis.

Introduction: A bone marrow trephine biopsy is a minor surgical procedure used to diagnose various haematological and non haematological diseases, such as leukaemia, multiple myeloma, and parasitic disorders like histoplasmosis and leishmaniasis. It is often performed alongside bone marrow aspiration to gather additional information about cellularity, the arrangement of marrow components, and the presence of focal diseases. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the recommended minimum adequate length for a trephine biopsy is =1.5 cm (before processing). Aim: To conduct an audit of trephine biopsy lengths and assess their diagnostic utility among adult patients. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study analysed all bone marrow biopsies from adult patients received at the Department of Pathology, Christian Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana, Punjab, India, over a three-year period (January 2019 to December 2021). The biopsies were categorised into three groups based on their length at the time of grossing: Group A (=1.5 cm), Group B (1-1.4 cm), and Group C (0.5-0.9 cm). The length of each trephine biopsy was recorded and its diagnostic usefulness was evaluated. Results: The study included 1,155 trephine biopsies performed over the three-year period. Out of these, 1042, 97, and 16 biopsies were allocated to Groups A, B, and C, respectively. Biopsies meeting the recommended length (>1.5 cm) accounted for 90.2% of the cases. Longer biopsies were associated with a higher rate of conclusive diagnosis compared to shorter biopsies (p-value=0.02). However, when comparing Groups A and B individually, no significant difference was observed in terms of the conclusive diagnosis (p-value=0.9). Conclusion: Trephine biopsy is a vital tool for diagnosing haematological disorders, particularly focal lesions. Obtaining longer trephine biopsies should be emphasised, as they contribute to a more definitive diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensitive and specific antemortem diagnostic tests are a prerequisite for effective management of chronic wasting disease (CWD). Paired with readily accessible samples that accurately reflect CWD status, the real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assay has the potential to enable more effective CWD surveillance and interventions. We evaluated the feasibility of RT-QuIC as a CWD diagnostic test using 6-mm ear tissue biopsies from elk (Cervus canadensis). First, we evaluated the effect of ear spatial location on seeding activity. We observed an effect of ear punch spatial location on the amyloid formation rate (AFR): Samples collected from the periphery of the ear evidenced a statistically significant increase in AFR relative to ear punches from the ventral midline. Gross microdissection of an ear pinna suggested that there was more small nerve innervation around the periphery of the ear. Second, we evaluated the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of RT-QuIC using ear punches from elk that had been previously diagnosed via ELISA testing. We evaluated the impact of nonstatistical and statistical approaches on diagnostic accuracy. Specificity and positive predictive value were perfect when statistical analyses were used to evaluate the binomial distribution (CWD positive versus CWD negative) of the data. Conversely, sensitivity and negative predictive value were modest, independent of the application of statistical analysis, indicating that RT-QuIC may be susceptible to false-negative data in this context. Taken together, our data support the idea that RT-QuIC, when paired with US Department of Agriculture-approved diagnostic tests, may provide more time to stakeholders for making major management decisions., (© Wildlife Disease Association 2024.)

Background: Accurate diagnosis of epidermolysis bullosa (EB) has significant implications for prognosis, management, and genetic counseling.Objective: To describe diagnostic testing patterns and assess diagnostic concordance of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunofluorescence mapping (IFM), and genetic analysis for EB.Methods: A retrospective cohort included patients enrolled in the Epidermolysis Bullosa Clinical Characterization and Outcomes Database from January 1, 2004, to July 8, 2019. Tests concluding the same EB type (EB simplex, junctional EB, dominant dystrophic EB, and recessive dystrophic EB) were considered concordant; those concluding different EB types were considered discordant; and those with nonspecific/nondefinitive results were equivocal.Results: A total of 970 diagnostic tests were conducted from 1984 to 2018 in 771 patients. Genetic analyses were performed chronologically later than IFM or TEM (P < .001). The likelihood of undergoing genetic analysis was greater for junctional EB and recessive dystrophic EB, and the same for dominant dystrophic EB as compared with EB simplex. TEM results in 163 patients were equivocal (55%), concordant (42%), and discordant (3%). IFM results in 185 patients were equivocal (54%), concordant (42%), and discordant (4%).Limitations: Retrospective design.Conclusions: Diagnostic testing has shifted in favor of genetic analysis. TEM and IFM frequently offer equivocal findings when compared to the specificity afforded by genetic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rapid COVID‐19 testing platforms can identify infected individuals at the point of care (POC), allowing immediate isolation of infected individuals and reducing the risk of transmission. While lab‐based nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) is often considered the gold standard to detect SARS‐CoV‐2 in the community, results typically take 2–7 days to return, rendering POC testing a critical diagnostic tool for infection control. The National Football League (NFL) and NFL Players Association deployed a new POC testing strategy using a newly available reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) rapid test during the 2020 season, and evaluated diagnostic effectiveness compared to other available devices using real‐world population surveillance data. Methods: RT‐PCR POC test results were compared to NAAT results from same‐day samples by calculation of positive and negative concordance. Sensitivity analyses were performed for three subgroups: (1) individuals symptomatic at time of positive test; (2) individuals tested during the pilot phase of rollout; and (3) individuals tested daily. Results: Among 4989 same‐day POC/NAAT pairs, 4957 (99.4%) were concordant, with 93.1% positive concordance and 99.6% negative concordance. Based on adjudicated case status, the false negative rate was 0.2% and false positive rate was 2.9%. In 43 instances, the immediate turnaround of results by POC allowed isolation of infected individuals 1 day sooner than lab‐based testing. Positive/negative concordance in sensitivity analyses were relatively stable. Conclusion: RT‐PCR POC testing provided timely results that were highly concordant with lab‐based NAAT in population surveillance. Expanded use of effective RT‐PCR POC can enable rapid isolation of infected individuals and reduce COVID‐19 infection in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: To investigate whether diagnostic agreement and concordance between non-psychiatric (medical and surgical) doctors and consultation-liaison psychiatry changes within junior doctors' terms.Method: This was a retrospective cohort analysis of referrals from medical and surgical units to a consultation-liaison psychiatry service. Diagnostic agreement was calculated across all diagnoses and expressed as a percentage. Diagnostic concordance (expressed using Cohen's Kappa) was calculated for the two most common diagnoses of depression and delirium. Diagnostic agreement and concordance in the first two weeks (Timepoint A) were compared to those in the last two weeks (Timepoint B) of junior doctors' terms.Results: Around half the referrals (Timepoint A = 48.1%, Timepoint B = 54.0%) were excluded as no diagnosis was listed.Diagnostic agreement over all diagnoses was 31.7% (Timepoint A) and 29.9% (Timepoint B) and was not statistically different. Diagnostic concordance for depression increased from fair to moderate but was not statistically significant. Diagnostic concordance for delirium was substantial for both timepoints and were not statistically different.Conclusions: No statistically significant change in diagnostic accuracy over a junior doctors' term was found in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Consultation – liaison psychiatry (CLP) provides expert advice and act as a liaison. There is a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities among patients of other specialities, yet the referral rates are low, probably due to inadequate psychiatric awareness which can be assessed from the diagnostic concordance. Objective: To assess diagnostic concordance between the psychiatrist and referring doctor. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional record-based study of all inpatients referred to CLP. Data was collected from CLP registry. Results: Most of the referrals were from General Medicine. The most common reason for referral was alcohol use disorders and common diagnoses made by referring physicians were alcohol use disorders, delirium and mood disorders, similar to the psychiatrist’s diagnoses; however, deliberate self harm (DSH), a common diagnosis made by the referring doctor, constituted only 4.2% of psychiatrist’s diagnoses. There was complete diagnostic concordance for 40.9%; perfect agreement was found for DSH and alcohol use disorders, substantial agreement for delirium and moderate agreement for mood disorders. The agreement was low for DSH with comorbid depression, other substance use disorders and organic mental disorders. Conclusion: The diagnostic concordance for common mental health problems is low, according to the present study. CLP needs to extend its educational function towards other specialities and it should be an active component of undergraduate psychiatric training.

Introduction: Digital pathology solutions are increasingly implemented for primary diagnostics in departments of pathology around the world. This has sparked a growing engagement on validation studies to evaluate the diagnostic performance of whole slide imaging (WSI) regarding safety, reliability, and accuracy. The aim of this review was to evaluate the performance of digital pathology for diagnostic purposes compared to light microscopy (LM) in human pathology, based on validation studies designed to assess such technologies. Methods: In this systematic review based on PRISMA guidelines, we analyzed validation studies of WSI compared with LM. We included studies of diagnostic performance of WSI regarding diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) indicators, degree of overdiagnosis, diagnostic concordance, and observer variability as a secondary outcome. Overdiagnosis is (for example) detecting a pathological condition that will either not progress or progress very slowly. Thus, the patient will never get symptoms from this condition and the pathological condition will never be the cause of death. From a search comprising four databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, encompassing the period 2010–2021, we selected and screened 12 peer-reviewed articles that fulfilled our selection criteria. Risk of bias was conducted through QUADAS-2 tool, and data analysis and synthesis were performed in a qualitative format. Results: We found that diagnostic performance of WSI was not inferior to LM for DTA indicators, concordance, and observer variability. The degree of overdiagnosis was not explicitly reported in any of the studies, while the term itself was used in one study and could be implicitly calculated in another. Conclusion: WSI had an overall high diagnostic accuracy based on traditional accuracy measurements; however, the degree of overdiagnosis is unknown.

Introduction: Teledermatology utilises telecommunications technology to deliver dermatological care remotely, incorporating live video consultations, store-and-forward systems, and hybrid approaches. It is particularly valuable in underserved or remote areas with limited access to dermatologists. Reported benefits include reduced face-to-face consultations for benign lesions, leading to increased capacity for severe cases, improved access for rural patients, and enhanced satisfaction among clinicians and patients. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of teledermatology, integrating it into the National Health Service (NHS) framework for managing referrals and ensuring continuity of care. This study examines the outcomes of two-week wait referrals for suspected skin cancer, focusing on diagnostic concordance between teledermatology and histopathology., Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at Addenbrooke's Hospital, part of Cambridge University Hospitals, via a retrospective review of patient records from November 2022 to May 2023. Inclusion criteria were all patients referred by their general practitioner (GP) under the two-week wait for suspected skin cancer pathway. Data collected included patient demographics, waiting times, clinical and histological diagnoses, and patient re-referrals for the same problem. The primary objective was to assess diagnostic concordance between the clinical diagnosis from teledermatology and histopathology. Secondary objectives included accuracy of lesion site description, patient waiting times, and computed time savings from the use of teledermatology., Results: The study covered 71 patients (34 males, 37 females) aged 19-87 years (mean: 59.63), with Fitzpatrick skin I-III predominating. A total of 110 individual lesions were assessed, and 46 required surgical management. Clinical and histological concordance was 62%, with 100% accuracy for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and melanoma. The service saved 10 hours of consultant time and reduced the need for 62 initial face-to-face consultations. Lesion site documentation had a 73% correlation between GPs and dermatologists. Diagnoses varied widely between GPs and dermatologists, with a 31% concordance., Conclusion: Our study shows that teledermatology is a safe and effective method for managing two-week wait referrals for suspected skin cancer, reducing footfall, and saving time and costs for both clinicians and patients. While there are limitations, the usage of teledermatology allows increasingly limited capacity for face-to-face consultations to be reserved for high-risk patients. Further studies in different regions should explore teledermatology's utility across diverse demographics, particularly to address healthcare disparities for those with darker skin tones., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Sekaran et al.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic yield of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) for detecting thoracic aortic graft infection (AGI) in comparison to expert consensus MAGIC criteria. Methods: Patients suspected clinically of having thoracic-AGI were prospectively recruited. Consensus MAGIC criteria for AGI were compared to findings on FDG PET imaging. MAGIC criteria were verified against clinical/surgical, radiological, and microbiological/laboratory predefined major and minor parameters. FDG images were interpreted using a semiquantitative visual grading score (VGS, abnormal ≥ 3), focal uptake and quantitative maximum standard FDG uptake value (SUVmax, abnormal ≥ 7.3), and target-to-background FDG ratio (TBRmax, abnormal ≥ 4.2). Results: Of 35 patients suspected of having thoracic-AGI, MAGIC diagnostic criteria were positive for AGI in 25 patients (71%) and negative in 10 (29%). FDG PET imaging was abnormal in 27 patients (77%). Abnormal and normal FDG imaging findings were concordant with MAGIC criteria in 31 patients (88.6%). In 4 patients, FDG imaging results were discordant with MAGIC criteria. By ROC analysis, optimal FDG cut-off values for detecting AGI by MAGIC were ≥ 3 for VGS, ≥ 7.3 for SUVmax and ≥ 4.2 for TBRmax, with concordance with MAGIC criteria in 88.6%, 85.7%, and 88.6% of patients, respectively. Two or more FDG imaging parameters (VGS, focal uptake, SUVmax, and TBRmax) yielded highest diagnostic concordance of 91.4%. VGS inverse odds ratio for AGI was 7.14. In 4 of 6 selective patients who had repeat FDG PET imaging during antibiotic treatment, quantitative FDG imaging values improved over time with associated improvement of laboratory markers of inflammation. Conclusions: FDG PET/CT imaging, using (semi-)quantitative imaging parameters, showed high concordance with expert consensus MAGIC criteria for AGI. These data suggest a potential complementary role of quantitative FDG/CT imaging, not only to detect AGI, but also to monitor response to antibiotic treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the characteristics, diagnosis and management of agitated inpatients before psychiatric consultation in a general hospital. Methods: A retrospective chart review of inpatients aged 18 years or older that were referred for psychiatric consultation due to agitation in a general hospital in Thailand. Results: Of the 188 patients, confusion was the most commonly detected early sign of agitation (63;33.5%), while fidgeting was the most common symptom/behavior that led to psychiatric consultations (94;50.0%). The average onset time of agitation after admission was 62 hours 48 minutes. The most common cause of agitation was delirium due to a medical condition (89;47.3%). Primary psychiatric disorders were only found in 9 (4.8%) of agitated patients. There was a low diagnostic concordance between attending physicians and psychiatrists (Cohen’s Kappa=0.32). Physical restraints were used in 109 (58.0%) patients, whereas 166 (88.3%) were prescribed with sedatives. Attending physicians prescribed benzodiazepine to ameliorate agitation in 32 (36.0%) of patients with delirium. However, 4 (7.3%) patients with alcohol-withdrawal delirium were untreated initially with benzodiazepine. Conclusion: Medical conditions are more common causes of agitation than psychiatric illness. There is poor diagnostic concordance between attending physicians and psychiatrists, and high rates of physical restraints and benzodiazepine injection were found. Medical education on the detection and management of agitation and the appropriate use of sedative medications and restraints is needed.

Many studies have examined the diagnostic concordance of whole slide imaging (WSI) and light microscopy (LM) for surgical pathology. In cytopathology, WSI use has been more limited, mainly because of technical issues. The aim of this study was to review the literature and determine the overall diagnostic concordance of WSI and LM in cytopathology. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library was performed, with data extracted from the included articles. A quality assessment of studies was performed with a modified Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 tool. The primary outcome was concordance for the diagnoses rendered by WSI and LM as shown by the concordance rate with the original diagnosis, intra‐observer and interobserver concordance with the κ coefficient, or a percentage. Secondary outcomes included the time taken to reach a diagnosis and the quality and perception of WSI. A descriptive survey was provided. Among 1867 publications, a total of 19 studies (1%) were included. Overall, the concordance between WSI and the original diagnosis was 84.1%, the intra‐observer concordance between WSI and LM was 92.5% with a κ coefficient of 0.66, and the interobserver κ coefficient was 0.69. The time to reach a diagnosis was longer with WSI in all studies. The quality of WSI was good, but diagnostic confidence and cytologist preference were higher for LM. In conclusion, the concordance of WSI with LM is acceptable and in line with systematic reviews in surgical pathology. However, the time required for scanning and technical issues represent barriers to complete adoption. It is foreseeable that technical advances and rigorous validation study design will help to improve the diagnostic concordance of WSI with LM in cytopathology. The diagnostic concordance of whole slide imaging with light microscopy in cytopathology as measured with the intra‐observer κ coefficient is comparable to that of surgical pathology. Some limitations due to the scan time and the time to render a diagnosis can be still barriers to the widespread adoption of whole slide imaging in cytopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct-to-patient mobile teledermoscopy is a feasible and useful adjunct to smartphone imaging for monitoring patient-identified lesions of concern, achieving comparable diagnostic and management accuracy as in-office dermatology., (©Winnie Fan, Gunnar Mattson, Amanda Twigg. Originally published in JMIR Dermatology (http://derma.jmir.org), 12.02.2024.)

Integration of new technologies, such as digital microscopy, into a highly standardized laboratory routine requires the validation of its performance in terms of reliability, specificity, and sensitivity. However, a validation study of digital microscopy is currently lacking in veterinary pathology. The aim of the current study was to validate the usability of digital microscopy in terms of diagnostic accuracy, speed, and confidence for diagnosing and differentiating common canine cutaneous tumor types and to compare it to classical light microscopy. Therefore, 80 histologic sections including 17 different skin tumor types were examined twice as glass slides and twice as digital whole-slide images by 6 pathologists with different levels of experience at 4 time points. Comparison of both methods found digital microscopy to be noninferior for differentiating individual tumor types within the category epithelial and mesenchymal tumors, but diagnostic concordance was slightly lower for differentiating individual round cell tumor types by digital microscopy. In addition, digital microscopy was associated with significantly shorter diagnostic time, but diagnostic confidence was lower and technical quality was considered inferior for whole-slide images compared with glass slides. Of note, diagnostic performance for whole-slide images scanned at 200× magnification was noninferior in diagnostic performance for slides scanned at 400×. In conclusion, digital microscopy differs only minimally from light microscopy in few aspects of diagnostic performance and overall appears adequate for the diagnosis of individual canine cutaneous tumors with minor limitations for differentiating individual round cell tumor types and grading of mast cell tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate diagnostic concordance of a synchronous telemedicine otolaryngology clinic with use of currently available technology.Study Design: Prospective.Methods: Patients in a rural otolaryngology clinic were enrolled in a pilot telemedicine clinic. To assess system fidelity, an on-site and remote (consulting) otolaryngologist conducted simultaneous patient evaluations using streaming telecommunication technology for all aspects of the clinical encounter, including high-definition examination and endoscopic images. Both physicians and patients were blinded and diagnoses recorded. Post-encounter physician surveys and an original patient-centered TeleENT Satisfaction Questionnaire (TESQ) were used to assess overall satisfaction.Results: Twenty-one patients were enrolled consecutively. Visual technology was found acceptable in all cases, and audio technology was acceptable in 20 of 21 encounters. Patient satisfaction was 96%, and patients felt comfortable using a telemedicine system in the future. Encounters were not significantly longer than traditional encounters. Physician diagnostic agreement was found in 95% of cases, and the consulting physician indicated that all encounters provided sufficient history, examination, and high-quality images to generate an accurate diagnosis, order additional workup, and/or make an appropriate referral.Conclusion: A synchronous otolaryngology telemedicine clinic is comparable to a standard clinic in terms of diagnostic concordance and patient satisfaction when using streaming technology and high-definition images. Using telemedical technology may be a viable way to increase otolaryngology access in remote or underserved areas. With system validity now established, future studies will assess the feasibility of using trained on-site physician extenders (nurse practitioners or physician assistants) to conduct in-person patient encounters with remote otolaryngologist support.Level Of Evidence: 2c. Laryngoscope, 128:1068-1074, 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective was to describe the characteristics of a primary support program (PSP) and to analyze diagnostic concordance between primary care physicians (PCP) and psychologists over three years. Material and method: A descriptive, longitudinal prospective study over three years at five primary care centers in Barcelona. The sample was 1722 patients referred to psychology services. Descriptive statistics used to analyze sociodemographic variables and Cohen's Kappa to assess agreement. Results: The average waiting time between referral and first visit was 37.54 days. Stable over the three years were the number of highs (34%), the number of cases of not presenting to first visit (21.4%), treatment dropout (19.9%), and referrals to other services (19.5%). There was a low overall concordance between PCP and psychologist. PCP most frequently diagnosed anxiety disorder. Psychologists most frequently diagnosed depression and anxiety. The highest concordance (2010: 0.343, 2011: 0.456, 2012: 0.662 Kappa Index) was observed in the diagnosis of eating behavior disorders followed by depression (2010: 0.302, 2011: 0.367, 2012: 0.362) and anxiety (2010: 0.245, 2011: 0.278, 2012: 0.296). Conclusions: PSP offers specialized brief interventions in primary care. Progressive increase of slight concordance was observed between professionals, while remaining close to the baseline percentage, indicating the need for increased opportunities for consultation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Very few studies have evaluated the reasons for referral to consultation-liaison (CL) psychiatry teams. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the psychiatric morbidity pattern, reasons for referral and diagnostic concordance between physicians/surgeons and the CL psychiatry team. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and nineteen psychiatric referrals made to the CL psychiatry team were assessed for reason for referral and diagnostic concordance in terms of reason of referral and psychiatric diagnosis made by the CL psychiatry team. Results: In 57% of cases, a specific psychiatric diagnosis was mentioned by the physician/surgeon. The most common specific psychiatric diagnoses considered by the physician/surgeon included depression, substance abuse, and delirium. Most common psychiatric diagnosis made by the CL psychiatric services was delirium followed by depressive disorders. Diagnostic concordance between physician/surgeon and psychiatrist was low (κ < 0.3) for depressive disorders and delirium and better for the diagnosis of substance dependence (κ = 0.678) and suicidality (κ = 0.655). Conclusions: The present study suggests that delirium is the most common diagnosis in referrals made to CL psychiatry team, and there is poor concordance between the psychiatric diagnosis considered by the physician/surgeon and the psychiatrist for delirium and depression; however, the concordance rates for substance dependence and suicidal behavior are acceptable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. Primary care (PC) pediatricians often receive patients who show cardinal symptoms of this entity. Objective: To analyze the concordance between the presumptive diagnosis performed in PC and the definitive diagnosis of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit (CAMHU). Materials and methods: Prospective descriptive observational study in which 374 patients under 16 years were recruited from the CAMHU of Pontevedra health area during 2016. The Kappa index was analyzed globally and specific for the different diagnoses. Results: 374 patients were included, 233 were referred with suspected ADHD, confirming the diagnosis in 102 patients. The global kappa concordance index is 0.29. For most diagnoses, agreement was weak. Concordance was good for Autism (0.61) and very good for Eating Disorder (1.00). For ADHD, the sensitivity was 95.33% (95% confidence interval (CI) 90.86-99.79), specificity 50.94% (CI95% 44.75-57.12), positive predictive value 43.78% (CI95% 37.19-50.36) and negative predictive value 96.45% (95% CI 93.05-99.86). Conclusions: The concordance obtained between PC and CAMHU is low in our health area. The diagnostic concordace measured with the kappa index is weak for ADHD, however, it is good for both autism and eating disorders. The diagnostic validity for ADHD is moderate, with a high sensitivity and low specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Agreement between clinical and pathologic diagnoses plays an important role in an appropriate treatment plan and it may also prevent serious side effects and problems in patients. This study was conducted to assess the agreement between clinical diagnoses and pathologic reports in soft tissue lesions of patients referring to pathology department of dental school, Tehran and shahid Beheshti university of medical sciences during 2005-2008. Methods: In this retrospective and descriptive study, 300 soft tissue lesions of patients referring to pathology department were selected by census sampling method and then were analyzed. The lesions were classified according to the criteria proposed by reference pathology textbooks and the data records regarding the patients age, gender and clinical and pathologic diagnoses were noted. Concordance between two diagnoses was determined by descriptive statistics. Results: In this study, pathologic findings were golden standard (definitive diagnoses). The results showed the concordance between two clinical and pathologic diagnoses were more than 0/7 except POF and pemphigus. Conclusion: The results showed that the surgeons of oral and maxillofacial surgery in dental departments of Tehran and shahid Beheshti university of medical science provided acceptable diagnoses regarding pathologic lesions during 2005-2008. However, even the slight differences between two diagnoses necessitate all patients to be evaluated clinically and paraclinically in order to propose an accurate scientific diagnosis and prevent the harmful outcomes of the disease. Furthermore most efforts must be done to make more agreements between clinical and pathological diagnoses.

A incidência de câncer tem aumentado significativamente em todo o mundo, configurando-se como um dos mais importantes problemas de saúde pública. Como conseqüência o câncer de boca também tem aumentado, com 94% dos casos correspondendo ao carcinoma de células escamosas. O objetivo deste estudo foi atualizar o tema e documentar a experiência de cinco anos na utilização da citopatologia para avaliação de lesões orais suspeitas de malignidade. Realizou-se uma busca no arquivo do Serviço de Anatomia Patológica do Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro da Universidade Federal Fluminense (HUAP/UFF), referente ao período de 2002 a 2007, de pacientes com lesões orais clinicamente suspeitas de carcinomas submetidos simultaneamente à biopsia incisional e a raspados da lesão para análise citopatológica. A amostra selecionada correspondeu a 50 casos, mas em 41 (82%) pacientes, o diagnóstico histopatológico foi de carcinoma de células escamosas. Desses, a citopatologia foi conclusiva em 30 (73%) e descreveu alterações suspeitas em 11 (27%) pacientes. Os resultados revelaram que a citopatologia apresentou concordância diagnóstica de 74% com a histopatologia (padrão-ouro) nos diagnósticos positivos para carcinoma de células escamosas, e negativos para malignidade. Os resultados obtidos indicam a necessidade de padronização da técnica e da avaliação de grandes casuísticas para definição da acurácia, pois, na casuística avaliada, a citopatologia apresentou-se como um método fidedigno, que poderá ser utilizado como recurso de diagnóstico suficiente para o imediato encaminhamento dos pacientes para o tratamento de carcinoma de células escamosas oral.Cancer is one of the most important problems in public health and its incidence has risen significantly worldwide. Accordingly, the incidence of oral cancer has also increased and 94% of the cases are caused by squamous cell carcinomas. The objective of the present study was to provide an update on the subject and report our five-year experience in the use of cytopathology analyzing suspected malignant oral lesions. We searched the slide archives of the anatomic pathology service of Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), from 2002 to 2007. We selected patients with suspected carcinoma oral lesions who underwent incisional biopsy and were scraped for cytopathological analysis simultaneously. The sample consisted of 50 cases, of which 41 (82%) were diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma. Among these, cytopathology was conclusive in 30 cases (73%) and suspected alterations were described in 11 (27%). Results indicated that cytopathology presented diagnostic concordance with histopathology in positive diagnosis for squamous cell carcinoma and in negative for malignancy in 74% of the cases (gold standard). Our findings demonstrate that the standardization of techniques and the evaluation of a larger number of patients are required to define the accuracy of the method. In the studied sample cytopathology was a reliable method that may be used as a sufficient diagnostic tool to refer patients for immediate treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: With the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase and scaling up of provider-to-provider telemedicine programs that connect frontline health providers such as nurses and community health workers at primary care clinics with remote doctors at tertiary facilities to facilitate consultations for rural patients. Considering this new trend of increasing use of telemedicine, this study was conducted to generate evidence for patients, health providers, and policymakers to compare if provider-to-provider telemedicine-based care is equivalent to in-person care and is safe and acceptable in terms of diagnostic and treatment standards., Objective: This study aims to compare the diagnosis and treatment decisions from teleconsultations to those of in-person care in teleclinics in rural Gujarat., Methods: We conducted a diagnostic concordance study using a randomized crossover study design with 104 patients at 10 telemedicine primary care clinics. Patients reporting to 10 telemedicine primary care clinics were randomly assigned to first receive an in-person doctor consultation (59/104, 56.7%) or to first receive a health worker-assisted telemedicine consultation (45/104, 43.3%). The 2 groups were then switched, with the first group undergoing a telemedicine consultation following the in-person consultation and the second group receiving an in-person consultation after the teleconsultation. The in-person doctor and remote doctor were blinded to the diagnosis and management plan of the other. The diagnosis and treatment plan of in-person doctors was considered the gold standard., Results: We enrolled 104 patients reporting a range of primary health care issues into the study. We observed 74% (77/104) diagnostic concordance and 79.8% (83/104) concordance in the treatment plan between the in-person and remote doctors. No significant association was found between the diagnostic and treatment concordance and the order of the consultation (P=.65 and P=.81, respectively), the frontline health worker-doctor pair (both P=.93), the gender of the patient (both P>.99), or the mode of teleconsultation (synchronous vs asynchronous; P=.32 and P=.29, respectively), as evaluated using Fisher exact tests. A significant association was seen between the diagnostic and treatment concordance and the type of case (P=.004 and P=.03, respectively). The highest diagnostic concordance was seen in the management of hypertension (20/21, 95% concordance; Cohen kappa=0.93) and diabetes (14/15, 93% concordance; Cohen kappa=0.89). The lowest values were seen in cardiology (1/3, 33%) and patients presenting with nonspecific symptoms (3/10, 30%). The use of a digital assistant to facilitate the consultation resulted in increased adherence to evidence-based care protocols., Conclusions: The findings reflect that telemedicine can be a safe and acceptable alternative mode of care especially in remote rural settings when in-person care is not accessible. Telemedicine has advantages. for the potential gains for improved health care-seeking behavior for patients, reduced costs for the patient, and improved health system efficiency by reducing overcrowding at tertiary health facilities., (©Neha Verma, Bimal Buch, Radha Taralekar, Soumyadipta Acharya. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org), 23.06.2023.)

Background: The present study aims to analyze diagnostic concordance between the DSM-IV and the DSM-5 for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnostic criteria and their different groups of symptoms. Furthermore,analyses are conducted toestablish the featuresof participants with no concordant diagnoses. Method: The study assessed 166 people over 18 who had experienced at least one traumatic event. PTSD diagnosis was established using the Global Scale for Posttraumatic Stress (EGEP), a self-report measure to assess PTSD. Results: The presence of cognitive avoidance was a determinant in the PTSD DSM-5 diagnosis (86% positive predictive value). The analysis of the non-concordant individuals revealed that individuals who were diagnosed according to the DSM-IV criteria but not the DSM-5 criteria were primarily indirect victims. Conversely, individuals who were diagnosed with the DSM-5 criteria and not with the DSM-IV criteria presented cognitive avoidance and alterations in cognition not included in the DSM-IV criteria. Conclusions: A withinsubjects concordance analysis showed high agreement for PTSD diagnosis between the two classifications. Differences between the diagnoses are due to the new definition of C (avoidance) and D (negative alterations in cognitions and mood) in the DSM-5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]