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Whole-slide imaging digital pathology as a platform for teleconsultation: a pilot study using paired subspecialist correlations.
- Source :
-
Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine [Arch Pathol Lab Med] 2009 Dec; Vol. 133 (12), pp. 1949-53. - Publication Year :
- 2009
-
Abstract
- Context: -Whole-slide imaging technology offers promise for rapid, Internet-based telepathology consultations between institutions. Before implementation, technical issues, pathologist adaptability, and morphologic pitfalls must be well characterized.<br />Objective: -To determine whether interpretation of whole-slide images differed from glass-slide interpretation in difficult surgical pathology cases.<br />Design: -Diagnostically challenging pathology slides from a variety of anatomic sites from an outside laboratory were scanned into whole digital format. Digital and glass slides were independently diagnosed by 2 subspecialty pathologists. Reference, digital, and glass-slide interpretations were compared. Operator comments on technical issues were gathered.<br />Results: -Fifty-three case pairs were analyzed. There was agreement among digital, glass, and reference diagnoses in 45 cases (85%) and between digital and glass diagnoses in 48 (91%) cases. There were 5 digital cases (9%) discordant with both reference and glass diagnoses. Further review of each of these cases indicated an incorrect digital whole-slide interpretation. Neoplastic cases showed better correlation (93%) than did cases of nonneoplastic disease (88%). Comments on discordant cases related to digital whole technology focused on issues such as fine resolution and navigating ability at high magnification.<br />Conclusions: -Overall concordance between digital whole-slide and standard glass-slide interpretations was good at 91%. Adjustments in technology, case selection, and technology familiarization should improve performance, making digital whole-slide review feasible for broader telepathology subspecialty consultation applications.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1543-2165
- Volume :
- 133
- Issue :
- 12
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 19961250
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1043/1543-2165-133.12.1949