Telecytology for rapid on-site evaluation: current status

Rapid on-site evaluation improves the quality of medical care and decrease health care costs by reducing the rate of non-diagnostic specimens, unnecessary passes and repeat procedures. The increase in number of minimally invasive procedures performed by different subspecialties in different sites can outstrip the cytology staff capacity in most institutions. Telecytology is useful in large volume settings as it one pathologist can support multiple sites simultaneously, thus increasing time efficiency without loss of quality. There are multiple platforms available for image transmission including static and live image transmission, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. The selection of equipment (hardware and software) should be based on the volume, budget and workflow of each institution. Validation before implementation for clinical use is mandatory in the US and should simulate the anticipated workflow.