An analysis of 46 static telecytology cases over a period of two years.
We analysed 46 telecytology cases sent from two rural hospitals about 500 km from a tertiary cancer centre. The cases were submitted for second opinion over a period of two years and evaluated using a static store and forward telecytology approach. A total of 715 digital images were studied (average 15 per case). Forty-one of the 46 cases (89%) were reported within 3 days and 54% of cases were reported within one working day. The aspiration smears and images were found to be of diagnosable quality in 89 and 93% of the cases, respectively. The diagnostic concordance was assessed by comparing the telecytology diagnosis, glass slide diagnosis and final histopathology diagnosis (when available). A clinically useful diagnosis was rendered in 91% cases with 74% complete concordance. Five out of 46 cases (11%) were deferred for glass slide review. Store and forward telecytology using the Internet is a rapid and effective method of providing expert diagnosis in cytology.
Jialdasani
Rajasa
R
Department of Pathology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, and Department of Pathology, Pramukhswami Medical College, Karamsad, Anand, Gujarat, India.
Desai
Sangeeta
S
Gupta
Monica
M
Kothari
Ashok
A
Deshpande
Ruta
R
Shet
Tanuja
T
Ramadwar
Mukta
M
Kane
Shubhada
S
Chinoy
Roshni
R
D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006780:Hospitals, Rural; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000592:standards*; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D019113:Telepathology / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data