Evidence map›Paper›PMID 23237667›Full record

ArticleDiagnostic pathology2012

Development of a teledermatopathology consultation system using virtual slides.

Ikunori Nakayama, Tsubasa Matsumura, Akihisa Kamataki, Miwa Uzuki, Kenji Saito, James Hobbs, Toshihide Akasaka, Takashi Sawai

Abstract readEvaluation Study
In one paragraph

Article in Diagnostic pathology, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. The Empirical Foundations of Telepathology: Evidence of Feasibility and Intermediate Effects.Telemedicine journal and e-health : the official journal of the American Telemedicine Association · 2017
    Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Ikunori NakayamaDepartment of Dermatology, Course of Integrated Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
Tsubasa Matsumura
Akihisa Kamataki
Miwa Uzuki
Kenji Saito
James Hobbs
Toshihide Akasaka
Takashi Sawai

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAn online consultation system using virtual slides (whole slide images; WSI) has been developed for pathological diagnosis, and could help compensate for the shortage of pathologists, especially in the field of dermatopathology and in other fields dealing with difficult cases. This study focused on the performance and future potential of the system.

methodIn our system, histological specimens on slide glasses are digitalized by a virtual slide instrument, converted into web data, and up-loaded to an open server. Using our own purpose-built online system, we then input patient details such as age, gender, affected region, clinical data, past history and other related items. We next select up to ten consultants. Finally we send an e-mail to all consultants simultaneously through a single command. The consultant receives an e-mail containing an ID and password which is used to access the open server and inspect the images and other data associated with the case. The consultant makes a diagnosis, which is sent to us along with comments. Because this was a pilot study, we also conducted several questionnaires with consultants concerning the quality of images, operability, usability, and other issues.

resultsWe solicited consultations for 36 cases, including cases of tumor, and involving one to eight consultants in the field of dermatopathology. No problems were noted concerning the images or the functioning of the system on the sender or receiver sides. The quickest diagnosis was received only 18 minutes after sending our data. This is much faster than in conventional consultation using glass slides. There were no major problems relating to the diagnosis, although there were some minor differences of opinion between consultants. The results of questionnaires answered by many consultants confirmed the usability of this system for pathological consultation. (16 out of 23 consultants.)

conclusionWe have developed a novel teledermatopathological consultation system using virtual slides, and investigated the usefulness of the system. The results demonstrate that our system can be a useful tool for international medical work, and we anticipate its wider application in the future. VIRTUAL SLIDES: The virtual slides for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1902376044831574.

Indexed as

DermatologyDiagnosis, Computer-AssistedPathology, ClinicalRemote ConsultationAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overChildElectronic MailFemaleHumansImage Processing, Computer-AssistedMaleObserver VariationOnline Systems

Identifiers

PMID23237667
PMCPMC3557204

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.