[Telepathology and "small cells" in cervical-vaginal smears: a new tool for diagnosis and teaching?]

The identification of small cells in cervical/vaginal smears is usually considered as a difficult task, as well when they are examined through a classical light microscope or thanks to a teletransmission system. In this paper, we have compared both methods. 53 cases of smears with small cells were examined by two pathologists. The different types of small cells were described. The results and the discrepancies were studied. The reliability was rather good (45/53 cases, 84.6%). The main images were recorded onto a videotape for teaching purposes.