Telepathology in the diagnosis of routine dermatopathologic entities.
BACKGROUND
Telepathology involves the use of video technology to facilitate remote-site diagnosis. To our knowledge, no studies have compared the reproducibility of real-time telepathology between dermatopathologists with that of traditional 2-headed microscopy in the diagnoses of routine dermatopathologic entities.


METHODS
The kappa statistic for both techniques was favorable: 0.76 (telepathology) vs 0.93 (conventional 2-headed microscopy); P =.04. The time taken per case was 42 seconds (telepathology) vs19 seconds (conventional 2 -headed microscopy); P =.003.


CONCLUSIONS
Telepathology between 2 remote diagnostic centers offers a feasible means of facilitating the remote-site diagnosis of routine dermatopathologic entities. Although diagnostic accuracy and time taken per case were acceptable with video-assisted diagnosis, conventional microscopy had significantly higher accuracy and shorter time per diagnosis.
Morgan
Michael B
MB
Departments of Pathology, University of South Florida College of Medicine and the Bay Pines, James Haley Veterans Hospitals, Tampa, FL, USA.
Tannenbaum
Myron
M
Smoller
Bruce R
BR
D003199:Computer Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015588:Observer Variation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D019113:Telepathology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*