Aspects of telepathology in routinary diagnostic work with specific emphasis on ISDN

Histopathological diagnosis is based upon visual information and additional clinical and environmental factors. Information can be transmitted over long distances in real time without difficulties. Thus, telecommunication is a technique which may be used in pathology. Several approaches have been performed to introduce telepathology into the daily work of pathologists. Histopathological images of intraoperative sections were transmitted between the Department of Pathology, Thoraxklinik, and the Institute of Pathology, Klinikum Baumgärtner Höhe, Vienna. The transfer time of one image lasted 1-2 minutes depending upon the time of the day; i.e. during telephone "rush" hours the transmission time increased from 1.1 min to more than 2.4 min. As an average, 2 different sections of the image at usually 2 different magnifications were transmitted. Parallel discussion of the images, and acoustic assistance in diagnostic classification or advice lasted for an additional average 3 min. A substantial assistance in the intraoperative classification of the diseases was achieved in 35-40% of cases. No breakdown of telephone lines or communication was observed, while this was the case for the telepathology trials performed by ISDN between the Department of Pathology, Thoraxklinik and the Department of Pathology, Robert Bosch Krankenhaus, Stuttgart. These trials included expert consultation of difficult paraffin embedded cases of various lung diseases. The transmission time of 1 image lasted an average 10 sec was the transfer of non average 4-6 images of the same case was required for substantial assistance in diagnostic classification. The value of the diagnostic assistance was confirmed by submission of the corresponding slides to the partner after termination of the telepathology conference.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)