Robotic telepathology for intraoperative remote diagnosis using a still-imaging-based system

Am J Clin Pathol. 2001 Nov;116(5):744-52. doi: 10.1309/D71Y-7RLE-JGJP-A427.

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess whether a telemicroscopy system based on static imaging could provide a remote intraoperative frozen section service. Three pathologists evaluated 70 consecutive frozen section cases (for a total of 210 diagnoses) using a static telemicroscopy system (STeMiSy) and light microscopy (LM). STeMiSy uses a robotic microscope, enabling full remote control by consultant pathologists in a near real-time manner. Clinically important concordance between STeMiSy and LM was 98.6% (95.2% overall concordance), indicating very good agreement. The rates of deferred diagnoses given by STeMiSy and LM were comparable (11.0% and 9.5%, respectively). Compared with the consensus diagnosis, the diagnostic accuracy of STeMiSy and LM was 95.2% and 96.2%. The mean viewing time per slide was 3.6 minutes, and the overall time to make a diagnosis by STeMiSy was 6.2 minutes, conforming to intraoperative practice requirements. Our study demonstrates that a static imaging active telepathology system is comparable to dynamic telepathology systems and can provide a routine frozen section service.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Frozen Sections
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Intraoperative Period
  • Pathology, Surgical / methods*
  • Remote Consultation / methods*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Robotics* / methods*
  • Telepathology / methods*