Mobile Technology for the Practice of Pathology

Area of Science:

• Pathology Informatics
• Medical Technology
• Digital Health

Background:

• Mobile phones, now smartphones, have seen rapid technological advancements.
• These advancements have led to widespread adoption in consumer and medical fields, revolutionizing healthcare practices.
• Mobile applications are emerging across various medical specialties, including pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current applications of mobile technology in pathology.
• To categorize existing mobile technology uses in anatomic pathology.
• To explore emerging trends and future potential of mobile technology in pathology.

Main Methods:

• Categorization of mobile technology applications in anatomic pathology into four groups: educational, microscope integration, mobile phone as acquisition device, and miscellaneous.
• Review of existing mobile applications in fields like dermatology, orthopedics, ophthalmology, neurosurgery, and clinical pathology.

Main Results:

• Mobile applications facilitate patient engagement, self-monitoring, clinical algorithm calculation, and expert consultation, particularly for resource-poor environments.
• Key applications in anatomic pathology include educational tools, using phones with microscopes, and using phones as acquisition devices.
• The use of mobile phones as acquisition devices with microscopes is a significant application for expert consultation in underserved regions.

Conclusions:

• Mobile technology offers diverse applications in pathology, with significant potential for improving diagnostics and accessibility.
• Emerging uses like image analysis and enhanced clinician-patient engagement are expected to grow as technology matures.
• Mobile technology represents a rapidly developing and flexible field within pathology informatics.