Digital Pathology Congress

Digital Pathology Congress

4-5 December 2014, London, UK

Proving experiment of international Virtual slide telepathology

Japan-Myanmar trialIchiro Mori, Yoshiyuki Osamura

Department of Pathology, Mita Hospital, International University of Health and Welfare

BACKGROUND

We have been trying to make an international pathology consultation using virtualslide (VS) with the eastern Asian countries.This time, we conducted proving experiment with Myanmar.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

1. We used Nanozoomer (Hamamatsu, Japan) as VS scanner. 2. We made VS in Japan from slides previously sent from Myanmar via

international parcel delivery service. 3. We brought notebook PC to Myanmar with VS data saved in hard disk. 4. Using this VS data, we made VS conference between Mita Hospital (Tokyo,

Japan) and University of Medicine 1 (Yangon, Myanmar) using WebEx teleconference system.

1. The quality of Myanmar histological technique requires improvement. 2. The internet connection of Yangon University was slow, so we updated the line

to the fastest connection that was 4 Mbps. 3. While we were preparing the experiment, we encountered electrical power

interruption, and have to wait for about 2 hours. 4. We could make good VS viewer connection with sharing the same VS viewer

screen. 5. The VS image maintained adequate quality for pathology diagnosis and the

response of VS viewer was good even under 4 Mbps. 6. The diagnoses matched well between Japan and Myanmar. 7. First, we tried to build good teleconference system we used with Vietnam and

China before, but failed this time possibly due to some kind of network restriction.

8. We used WebEx system as an emergency procedure. The pictures and voices were not clear and fragmented.

The international VS telepathology diagnosis and conference is now technically

suitable for practical use. Scientific and social issues like quality of histological

staining, electricity support, possible web-restriction, custom procedures remains as

the future concern to solve.

RESULTS

DISCUSSION AND PERSPECTIVE

PROJECT SUPPORTED BY

Investigation of overseas operations of Japanese medical services – international

remote diagnosis system

8 projects including Russia, China, Vietnam, etc.

Mita Hospital,

International University

of Health and Welfare,

Tokyo, Japan

University of Medicine 1,

Yangon, Myanmar

CONSORTIUM FOR INTERNATIONAL REMOTE DIAGNOSIS SYSTEM

MAP

1. We failed to bring VS scanner through Myanmar customs in time2. Total 10 glass slides were sent from Myanmar via DHL, and 3 slides were

broken3. While we were preparing the experiment, we encountered electrical power

interruption, and have to wait for about 2 hours. 4. We could not build good teleconference system we used with Vietnam and

China before possibly due to some kind of network restriction. 5. We used WebEx system as an emergency procedure. The pictures and voices

were not clear and fragmented.

TROUBLES WE ENCOUNTERED

SLIDE QUALITY

1. Total 3 out of 10 slides sent from Myanmar by DHL was broken.2. The quality of pathology slides with the protocol of UM1 is not good enough for

Japanese pathologists. 3. Using modern equipment such as Tissue Processor, Embedding Console,

Automated Coverslipper etc., may improve the quality4. Lab technician may need training

LECTURE BEFORE EXPERIMENT

JAPAN MYANMAR TELEPATHOLOGY TRIAL

University of Medicine1, Myanmar Mita hospital, Japan

Connecting with small screen of WebEx.

Could not build good teleconference connection.

Previous experiment with Vietnam and China (2012) when large screen was available

Toshiba Medical Systems:

CT/MRI image

Sakura Finetek:

Pathology specimen preparation

Mita Hospital:

Diagnosis

Panasonic System Solutions:

Network and TV conference

Hamamatsu Photonics:

Virtual slide (VS) scanner