Telepathology in developing countries

http://www.archivesofpathology.org/doi/pdf/10.1043/1543-2165-135.2.211

The Future of Telepathology for the Developing World
Charles L. Hitchcock, MD, PhD
Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2011;135:211–214

Physician shortages are acute in developing countries,
where disease burden is the greatest and resources for
health care are very limited. A lack of pathologists in these
countries has lead to delays in diagnosis and misdiagnoses
that adversely affect patient care and survival. The
introduction of telepathology into countries with limited
resources for health care is but one of multiple approaches
that can be used to alleviate the problem.
Telepathology is the electronic transmission of digital
images that can be used for education and diagnostic
consultation. A basic system consists of a microscope with
a mounted digital camera linked to a computer. The ability
to produce histologic slides, to repair and maintain
equipment, and to provide training are also needed for
the successful use of this technology.
iPath is a Web-based, open platform, software application which was developed at the University of Basel,
Switzerland, for telepathology and which brings together
pathologists from around the world to provide telepathology support for diagnostic consultation and provides
education to centers with limited resources. The use of
virtual-slide technology to provide a digital image of an
entire glass slide is another technology for diagnostic
consultation and pathology education. This technology
requires more costly resources to support it, which may
limit its utility in many areas. Telepathology can generate
collections of digital images and virtual slides needed for
training indigenous pathologists in their countries to
become self-sufficient. Thus, the long-term goal of this
technology is to improve patient care and survival.