Factors influencing distant tele-evaluation in cytology, pathology, conventional radiology and mammography

The present paper summarizes our 1 year's experience with the use of static high resolution videophones (9600 bauds transmission rate, lossless compression, 512 x 512 spatial resolution). The images (n = 610) belong to regular videoconsultation in cytology (160 images), (160 images), pathology (226 images), conventional radiology (50 images) and mammographies (174 images). The results showed an exponential relationship between agreement with 'gold standards' (true diagnosis of the case based on pathology, surgery and follow-up) and the time of training on screen diagnosis (r = 0.9726, P < 0.01) that increases (r = 0.983, P < 0.004) when the screen diagnosis training within the specific topic is examined. Conversely, no significant correlation is found when medical experience itself is considered (r = 0.31, P nonsignificant). Sufficient diagnostic response has been achieved after 1 year of training on screen diagnosis within a specific topic.