How could static telepathology improve diagnosis in neuropathology?

The present paper reports our experience with, and our opinion of static te lepathology as applied to neuropathology by means of the PHAROS acquisition system and conventional telephone data transmission (modem). The classical procedure of expert consultation based on surface mailing of histological slides is routinely performed, especially in highly specialized fields of p athology. Telepathology is an easy means of sharing scientific expertise at international level and could thus improve diagnosis particularly in neuro pathology, where certain tumor types are very rare and complex to diagnose. Dynamic telepathology allows the referring pathologist to capture by himse lf images supporting their diagnosis. Using static telepathology the pathol ogist could be limited in diagnosis by problems in fields selection. We devoted a whole year to collecting all the technical parameters characte rizing the use of digitized neuropathological data files in order to invest igate the feasibility of telepathology and the extent to which its use coul d improve diagnoses. Our results on a series of 38 histological brain exami nations illustrate how we successfully established an international connect ion between two departments of pathology in Belgium and the USA. The referr ing pathologists gave diagnoses in 35 cases and deferred only 3. Despite a time-consuming procedure for the telepathology session of a few cases, this tool provides easy access to expert diagnosis and real-time discussion, bo th of which are of considerable interest and offer significant improvements in neuropathology.