Use of Dynamic Telepathology in Mohs Surgery: A Feasibility Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Telepathology is an emerging technology for remote pathology consultation and diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic accuracy and utility of a dynamic telepathology system in the setting of Mohs surgery. METHODS: Using a dynamic telepathology system, a single dermatopathologist at a remote site assessed the following cases: (1) 50 fixed-tissue slides of basal and squamous cell carcinomas for pathologic diagnosis; (2) 40 frozen-section slides from Mohs surgery for the presence or absence of tumor; (3) 20 frozen-section slides from Mohs surgery for intraoperative consultation with the Mohs surgeon. All 110 slides were then randomly reviewed by the same dermatopathologist by conventional light microscopy. Telepathology and conventional light microscopy diagnoses were then compared. RESULTS: There was complete agreement between telepathology and conventional light microscopy diagnoses. CONCLUSION: Dynamic telepathology is a convenient, useful, and accurate system for remote diagnosis and consultation in the setting of Mohs surgery.