Pathology 2018
Research & Reviews: Journal of Medical and Health Sciences
ISSN: 2319-9865
Page 64
October 08-09, 2018
Edinburgh, Scotland
17
th
International Conference on
Pathology & Cancer
Epidemiology
Introduction & Aim:
There is an emerging need for tele cytology
in Colombia as the demand for cytopathology has increased.
However, due to economic and technological constraints tele
cytology services are limited. Our aim was to evaluate the
diagnostic feasibility of using whole slide imaging with and
without Z-stacking for tele cytology in Colombia, South America.
Methods:
Archival glass slides from 17 fine needle aspiration
smears were digitized employing whole slide imaging (WSI)
(Nanozoomer 2.0 HT, Hamamatsu) in one Z-plane at 40x
and panoramic digital imaging (Panoptiq system, Views IQ)
combining low-magnification digital maps with embedded 40x Z
stacks of representative regions of interest. Fourteen Colombian
pathologists reviewed both sets of digital images. Diagnostic
concordance, time to diagnosis, image quality (scale 1-10), and
usefulness of Z stacking, and technical difficulties were recorded.
Results:
Image quality scored by pathologists was on average
8.3 for WSI and 8.7 for panoramic images with Z stacks (p=0.03).
However, diagnostic concordance was not impacted by image
quality ranking. In the majority of cases (72.4%) pathologists
deemed Z-stacking to be diagnostically helpful. Technical issues
related to Z-stack video performance constituted only a minor
proportion of technical problems reported. Slow downloads and
crashing of files while viewing wasmostly experienced with larger
WSI files.
Conclusion:
This study demonstrated that international tele
cytology for diagnostic purposes is feasible. Panoramic images
had to be acquired manually but were of suitable diagnostic
quality and generated smaller image files associated with fewer
technical errors. Z-stacking proved to be useful in the majority of
cases and is thus recommended for tele cytology.
admosqueraza@unisanitas.edu.coAdvantage of z-stacking for tele consultation between the USA
and Colombia
Andres Mosquera Zamudio
1
, Matthew G Hanna
2
, Rafael Parra Medina
3
, Ana Caro-
lina Piedrahita
1
, Paula A Rodriguez Urrego
4
and
Liron Pantanowitz
2
1
Fundación Universitaria Ciencias de la Salud - Hospital de San, Colombia
2
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, USA
3
Foundation University of Health Sciences, Colombia
4
Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia
RRJMHS 2018
Volume: 7