An analysis of 46 static telecytology cases over a period of two years

J Telemed Telecare. 2006;12(6):311-4. doi: 10.1258/135763306778558132.

Abstract

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.

MeSH terms

  • Cytodiagnosis / methods
  • Cytodiagnosis / standards*
  • Cytodiagnosis / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Hospitals, Rural
  • Humans
  • Internet / standards*
  • Remote Consultation / standards*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Telepathology / standards*
  • Telepathology / statistics & numerical data