Telepathology: a tool to aid in diagnosis and quality assurance in cervicovaginal cytology

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of a Teletransmission System with regard to quality of diagnosis and screening so as to establish its potential role in gynaecological cytology. Three aspects of its use in cytopathology have been considered: diagnosis, training, and quality control. The circumstances in which the system may be used for diagnosis, together with its advantages and disadvantages, are examined and discussed. In general, the cost/benefit in diagnostic use related to the experience of both the expert and the peripheral pathologist. The system may also contribute to training and quality assessment, particularly if combined with other automated services, such as image data bank.