Internal Validation Testing For New Technologies: Bringing Telecytopathology Into The Mainstream

FaceTime validation study: Low‐cost streaming video for cytology adequacy assessment

“…Various studies have published data regarding their experience with real‐time imaging for cytology adequacy assessment . All of those studies used a digital camera attached to an onsite microscope to acquire the images and another digital camera, a receiving microscope, and a desktop computer to receive the digital images.…”

Use of a low‐cost telecytopathology method for remote assessment of thyroid FNAs

“…Telepathology has become a valuable tool in everyday pathology practice as technologies have evolved . It can be used in different scenarios, from whole slide imaging (WSI) to the dynamic transmission of images for frozen consultation . Implementation of the technique is rapidly increasing worldwide, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the use of WSI for routine sign‐out; however, it is still restricted to surgical pathology (histopathology) .…”

“…In cytopathology practice, a third factor involving the tridimensional nature of cytologic preparations may further hamper or delay its wide implementation . Although newer scanners provide software for scanning multiple levels and z‐stacking, images are still very large, and the process is tedious …”

“…However, an area in which telecytology (TC) may be implemented immediately is rapid on‐site evaluation (ROSE), which is a great tool for optimizing the adequacy and quality of cytologic samples . The cytopathologist's time is precious; and, with increasing caseloads and minimally invasive procedures, the dynamic transmission of slides rises as a useful strategy for the broad implantation of ROSE . In thyroid fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), ROSE has significantly improved specimen adequacy, because it avoids undersampling scenarios and allows for the proper triage of materials for ancillary studies while also decreasing the mean number of needle passes, reducing patient discomfort, and reducing the incidence of complications from the procedure.…”