Application of telepathology for neuropathologic intraoperative consultations

The demand for expert neuropathologic intraoperative diagnoses often exceeds the available supply and geographic distribution of neuropathology centers. Telepathology has therefore been implemented in recent years to meet this demand. Herein, we draw on our experience with 4 generations of telepathology systems over the past 8 years to discuss the design, initiation and maintenance of an effective telepathology service for neuropathologists, including when to change systems. In addition to workflow efficiency, unique advantages of telepathology include integration into other informatics modalities, quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) maintenance and the potential for visual data to be readily available to clinicians. Given the improvements in technology and the multiple uses of telepathology, this method for delivering patient care will undoubtedly continue to grow over time.