Clinical application of dynamic telepathology in Mohs surgery.
Academic Article
Overview
abstract
BACKGROUND: Telepathology is an expanding technology in multiple fields for remote pathology diagnosis and consultation. The use of telepathology in Mohs surgery has been very limited. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical experience of using a telepathology system for intraoperative consultations on difficult frozen sections during Mohs surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intraoperative consultation with a dermatopathologist was obtained using a dynamic telepathology system for all questions arising on frozen sections during Mohs surgery for nonmelanoma skin cancers during a 2-year period. RESULTS: The most common reason for consultation was to distinguish basal cell carcinoma from a benign histologic simulant on Mohs frozen sections. Other uses included determining tumor histology and distinguishing inflammation from residual tumor. CONCLUSION: Dynamic telepathology is a useful and convenient adjunct in the Mohs surgery practice for intraoperative consultations on difficult frozen sections.
