[The practice of teleconferencing in clinical pathology--networking among cancer-center-hospitals in various parts of Japan].
In the last several years, we have been able to use a telemedicine system on a network among cancer-center-hospitals connected by light fibers(so-called Cancer Network) and attend teleconferences from each site in Japan at the same time using the same images. Every week we have many medical conferences using this network system. On the practical use of teleconferences, the ratio of clinical pathological images is very high, especially histopathological appreciation is important; that is, surgical slide conference, clinico-pathological conference, orthopedic tumor conference, image conferences about digestive organs, presentation of current topics in laboratory medicine and other issues are carried out by clinicopathological images. At present, images on teleconference are still-pictures and images in High Definition Television are clear and high capacity, and of sufficient quality for pathological diagnosis. However, the coincidence-rates of histopathological diagnosis among 15 pathologists between the tele-image method and direct microscopic method varied from 38-80%. It is necessary to try to experience the images of still-picture and also animated cartoon. In the near future, the present network may extend to cover a wide areas and attend to teleconferences in every medical facilities. By attending this network system, we are able to use clinicopathological information for clinical diagnosis, treatment, research and education.
Fujita
M
M
Keiyukai Institute of Clinical Pathology and Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Sapporo.
D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D007564:Japan; D013685:Telecommunications