Tele-pathology is the practice of pathology at a distance i.e. the electronic transmission of pathological images using information and communication technology.  At one end, the pathologist views the slides under a microscope, captures images in a suitable format and transmits images to a distant site over a communication link. A tele-pathologist viewed the images on a display device at the receiving end and interprets them. It provides local medical centers with rapid access to highly specialized expertise in pathology. Thus tele-pathology helps pathologists and patients of the remote areas to get timely and expert reports which in turn leads to the correct diagnosis and treatment. Tele-pathology can be applied for various aspects of pathology such as biopsies, surgical specimens, intra-operative frozen section, cytology, e.c.t.

Equipment required for tele-pathology

The minimum equipment required for tele-pathology purposes are:

1. A light microscope
2. A high resolution camera either digital or analog with a frame grabber card
3. PC work station
4. Access to telecommunication network, either by modem or digitized data transfer card

Types of Pathology

The telemedicine technology can be used both store and forward and real time depending upon this there are three type of tele-pathology

• Static tele-pathology
• Dynamic Tele-pathology
• Hybrid Tele-pathology

Static tele-pathology

It is also known as store and forward or passive approach to tele-pathology. It is the simple and inexpensive form of tele-pathology as it does not require a video-conferencing camera and high bandwidth for the faster transmission of images. It capture of still diagnostic images and their electronic transmission at one site and viewing at another site

Dynamic tele-pathology

It is also known as real time pathology or active tele-pathology. It is more sophisticated technique in which the pathologist has to complete control over the images he is viewing. It is performed between the two fixed partners – large institution linked to small hospitals located in remote areas. It requires high cost of equipment and compatibility between the systems at both ends.

Hybrid System

Hybrid system is the combination of both static and dynamic technology. In such systems a series of static images are captured and are transmitted at the start of dynamic tele-pathology session

Application of tele-pathology at SGPGIMS

The first interactive real time tele-pathology sessions between SGPGIMS and PGIMER, Chandigarh is conducted in February 2001. Later from September 2001 onwards SGPGIMS has used both the static and dynamic form of tele-pathology with the medical colleges of Orissa for the education and consultation purposes twice a month. Instrument used four megapixel digital camera for still images and  charged coupled device (CCD)  camera for real time microscopic images. Data transmission was done either by ISDN or VSAT communication link.  The interesting and uncommon cases in specialties like real pathology, gastrointestinal and hepatic pathology, endocrine pathology, urology and neurology pathology were discussed. Interesting and difficult cases received from these medical colleges helped them in diagonosis and management of these cases.