Telecytologic diagnosis of breast fine needle aspiration biopsies - Intraobserver concordance

OBJECTIVE: To determine the intraobserver concordance between telecytologic and glass slide diagnosis of breast fine needle aspirates. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-five cases, originally received in consultation, were each examined by three cytopathologists. An average of seven compressed dig ital images per case were presented, together with a brief clinical history , using the http protocol and an internet browser. RESULTS: Agreement between the telecytologic and glass slide diagnosis rang ed from 80% to 96%. Nevertheless, two cases that had been unequivocally dia gnosed ns malignant based upon video images were considered to be benign by the same pathologist when reviewing the glass slides. Both diagnostic conf idence and self-concordance were higher for one pathologist having signific ant previous video microscopy experience. CONCLUSION: Although intraobserver concordance between telecytologic and gl ass slide diagnoses of breast Fine needle aspirates is high, refinement of existing criteria for diagnosis of malignancy, taking account of the partic ular limitations associated with telecytologic diagnosis, may be prudent pr ior to widespread use of telecytology for fine needle aspiration evaluation .