Digital Teleconsultation: Clinical Perspectives

Immediate analysis of specimens, such as rapid cytology adequacy determination and frozen section interpretation are now employed using real time screen sharing and whole slide imaging technologies. Both have been shown to be accurate and have proven to be substantial productivity enhancers for pathologists. Secondary consultation practices have employed predominantly the whole slide imaging approach and have also been shown to be accurate. Uptake of teleconsultation for second opinions has been limited by the expense and therefore availability of scanning technology, but in the future, as whole slide imaging becomemore routine and costeffective, this aspect of teleconsultation is certain to grow.