Diagnostic accuracy and image quality using a USB digital eyepiece camera for telecytology-Georgian experience.
OBJECTIVE
this study is aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of digital images for telecytology diagnosis and compares it with routine cytology diagnostic under the conditions of Georgia.


METHODS
gynecological cytology cases (n = 420) were taken from the clinical laboratory. Cases were diagnosed routinely by one of four certified cytologists who provided cytology diagnoses. Digital images were obtained on all cases and were evaluated as computer images by a panel of cytologists.


RESULTS
there was 94% concordance in average between routine versus digital images diagnostic. Intracytologists concordance averaged 95.5%. Image sharpness and quality were rated "good" and "excellent" in 97% cases. With respect to image color, 96% of the images were rated as "excellent" or "good."


CONCLUSIONS
digital images for cytology diagnostic are of adequate quality, with diagnostic concordance rates.
Georgian Telemedicine Union (Association) ,Tbilisi, Georgia 0171, USA. ekldiashvili@yahoo.com
Ekaterina
E
Kldiashvili
Thomas
T
Schrader
D003584:Cytological Techniques; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D005846:Georgia (Republic); D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D019113:Telepathology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014743:Videotape Recording