Effect of image compression on telepathology. A randomized clinical trial.
BACKGROUND
For practitioners deploying store-and-forward telepathology systems, optimization methods such as image compression need to be studied.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPG or JPEG) compression, a glossy image compression algorithm, negatively affects the accuracy of diagnosis in telepathology.


METHODS
Double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.


METHODS
University-based pathology departments.


METHODS
Resident and staff pathologists at the University of Illinois, Chicago, and University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.


METHODS
Compression of raw images using the JPEG algorithm.


METHODS
Image acceptability, accuracy of diagnosis, confidence level of pathologist, image quality.


RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference in the diagnostic accuracy between noncompressed (bit map) and compressed (JPG) images. There were also no differences in the acceptability, confidence level, and perception of image quality. Additionally, rater experience did not significantly correlate with degree of accuracy.


CONCLUSIONS
For providers practicing telepathology, JPG image compression does not negatively affect the accuracy and confidence level of diagnosis. The acceptability and quality of images were also not affected.
Marcelo
A
A
High Performance Computing and Communications, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA.
Fontelo
P
P
Farolan
M
M
Cualing
H
H
D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000592:standards; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D015588:Observer Variation; D010336:Pathology / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D019113:Telepathology