Internet as a consultation medium for telepathology: a cooperative study

Abstract

Summary form only given. For this application, we utilized Unix-based computer systems. The communication link between our two institutes is based upon TCP/IP and UDP/IP for the US and Japan respectively. An analysis of a sample communication is provided. We prepared the cases to be exchanged, relayed them by FTP, and subsequently held interactive teleconferences centered on the transmitted cases. We followed the following steps in our preparations: (1) record documentation of the sessions; (2) schedule four 15-minute segments for each weekly session; (3) acquire the images and write files to local workstations and FTP files to remote workstations; (4) conduct the scheduled teleconference sessions. From our experience, the Internet appears to be a promising medium for providing a low-cost vehicle for international inter-institutional consultation and pathology case exchange.