Comparison between a traditional single still image and a multiframe video image along the z‐axis of the same microscopic field of interest in cytology: Which does contribute to telecytology?

Abstract

The limitation of cytologic still images is one of the reasons why telecytology has not met with widespread acceptance by the cytology community. Cytologic still image only displays a single depth of field, and this is a particularly acute problem in cytology where the specimen is often much thicker than a single microscopic depth of focus. In this article, we examine the validity of a "z-axis" video of a microscopic field of interest.After observing videos of fields of interest from 10 cases, five cytotechnologists reached suitable cytologic findings and diagnosed the fields correctly in great majority of cases. Five other cytotechnologists, who looked only at a single representative still image, could not always make a correct diagnosis. The difference between two observer groups was statistically significant by Wilcoxon's matched pairs signed-rank test.The results indicate that "z-axis" video of microscopic field of interest provides a similar experience to "focusing through" observation of the specimen under a microscope and may improve an accuracy of primary telecytodiagnosis. And we expect that video image telecytology will strongly influence cytology, especially in education and training.

Telecytopathology for On-Site Adequacy Evaluation Decreases the Nondiagnostic Rate in Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration of Pancreatic Lesions

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TeleCyP (Telecytopathology): Real-Time Fine-Needle Aspiration Interpretation

“…6) and a high-resolution video camera; a higher bandwidth permitted real-time transmission of images and display of the essence of real-time quality image transfer. Live communication not readily available to static pathology viewers was essential for the success of this project [8,21]. This constant link between the sending and receiving stations enabled the sharing of clinical information as well as the focusing of cell groupings of interest at the desired magnification.…”

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