A novel automated screening and interpretation process for cervical cytology using the internet transmission of low-resolution images

Digital Slide Imaging in Cervicovaginal Cytology: A Pilot Study

“…The development of greater image quality and resolution within digital pathology has promoted the use of telepathology, including telecytology, which has been shown to be acceptable for both adequacy checks and rapid cytology diagnoses. [1][2][3][4] Other uses of digital imaging in pathology include image-enhanced reports, live imaging through robotic microscopy, 5 remote surgical frozen section review, 6,7 quality assurance testing, 3 and image cytometry/ analysis.Whole slide imaging (WSI), a subset of digital imaging, is the process of scanning an entire glass slide and converting the data into a high-resolution digital image that is viewed and manipulated on a computer. Potential applications of WSI include case sign-out, archiving for consultation or legal cases, and education.…”

“…The development of greater image quality and resolution within digital pathology has promoted the use of telepathology, including telecytology, which has been shown to be acceptable for both adequacy checks and rapid cytology diagnoses. [1][2][3][4] Other uses of digital imaging in pathology include image-enhanced reports, live imaging through robotic microscopy, 5 remote surgical frozen section review, 6,7 quality assurance testing, 3 and image cytometry/ analysis.…”

Internet-Based Cervical Cancer Screening Program

“…"Proof of concept" was provided by a recent feasibility study in which it was shown that low-resolution images selected by an automated screening device and transmitted over the Internet as e-mail attachments could be adequately interpreted at a distant site without manual microscopy, using primary triage methods for clinically meaningful diagnostic categories. 1 An algorithm of remote review of a laboratory's total cervical cytology workload with triage of the most potentially abnormal cases to on-site review by the originating laboratory has the potential to select the "needles out of the haystack" for expedited review. In addition, laboratories could more effectively share personnel resources across distances without resorting to the shipment of glass slides, thereby easily redistributing the workload among available resources.…”

“…In a pilot study, we showed that satisfactory and reliable interpretations of device-selected, electronically transmitted images can be made on a computer monitor, without manual microscopy. 1 The instrument used in that study, the FocalPoint screening system for cervical cytology (Becton Dickinson/TriPath Imaging, Burlington, NC), is used in many laboratories to triage cases to no further review or complete, manual review. Studies have shown that the use of this automated device allows cytologists to efficiently and reliably identify more abnormal cases than manual screening alone.…”

Digital Cytology: Current State of the Art and Prospects for the Future

“…At present, automated Pap test readers are available that, via artificial intelligence, identify slides at high risk of containing abnormal cells [22], but that can also identify which individual fields of view on slides are most likely to contain abnormal cells [23,24]. With the ability to identify high-risk fields of view, image capture of such fields with transmission of the static images to remote sites is a potential mode for ‘automated telecytology.’ This principle was first tested in a report using bundled low-resolution images of high-risk fields of view captured from an automated screening device [25]. In this report, the feasibility of such a system was proven, with high sensitivity and specificity for appropriate case triage by this method.…”