May 20, 2010

Telecytopathology for immediate evaluation of fine-needle aspiration specimens

BY Dr. Keith J. Kaplan

I was recently asked to write an editorial for Cancer Cytopathology on "Telecytopathology for immediate evaluation of fine-needle aspiration specimens" for an upcoming edition of the journal when an article looking at implementing a solution for this purpose will be published.

This article has been published in electronic form ahead of print.  If you can access the journal the DOI is 10.1002/cncy.20079.

In the course of writing the editorial, I reference an article written by multiple authors about 10 years ago as part of a consensus panel with guideline for the practice of cytology with "new" technologies that existed then.  The questions raised by that group involved field selection, resolution, focus, z-stack focusing, liability concerns with diagnoses made at a distance, reporting requirements, etc…

While the technology is no longer "new" many of these issues and concerns persist unfortunately for the cytology community in particular.  The article the editorial is based on reviews nearly 500 FNA cases reviewed remotely with very high diagnostic concordance that is important for several reasons.  Namely, the inexpensive nature of the system, ease of use, and clear situations where false negative cases may be encountered. 

If I am able to do so, will provide copies of the articles when they are published.

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