Rpc. Singson et al., Virtual microscopy and the internet as telepathology consultation tools - A study of gastrointestinal biopsy specimens, AM J CLIN P, 111(6), 1999, pp. 792-795
Citations number
14
Categorie Soggetti
Research/Laboratory Medicine & Medical Tecnology","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
Telepathology (TP) is the practice of pathology at a distance using videomi
croscopy and telecommunication tools. We explore the use of "virtual micros
copy" techniques and the Internet as tools for TP gastrointestinal biopsy c
onsultations. Thirty-Jive gastrointestinal biopsy specimens were photograph
ed in Los Angeles by using a high-resolution digital camera, a light micros
cope, and a Pentium 166 microcomputer: Several (2-8) digital photomicrograp
hs were collected at 40x or 100x optical magnification, using 2, 700 x 3,40
0 pixel resolution. The photomicrographs illustrated all the tissue fragmen
ts present in I of the biopsy levels. They were saved in medium compression
JPEG image format These images can be magnified digitally up to 600% witho
ut visible degradation and scrolled at different magnifications on a video
monitor simulating examination under a light microscope. The image files (2
81 to 3,324 KB) were attached to e-mail messages containing patient informa
tion and sent through the Internet to Michigan for interpretation using a P
ower Macintosh 7100 system. The e-mail process was successful in 100% of in
stances; 2 files were corrupted owing to user error and had to be resent. A
dditional photos were requested in I case. Iii 33 of 35 cases, there was di
agnostic concordance between the original and the TP diagnoses. The 2 discr
epancies were due to diagnostic disagreement. This technology offers pathol
ogists relatively inexpensive and effective tools for gastrointestinal TP c
onsultations.