Rapid pathologic and molecular diagnosis of lung cancer patients based on telepathology techniques

Abstract

Telepathology is an emerging form of diagnostic process introducing digitalization of slides prepared from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded materials and stained cytological smears. The use of whole slide imaging (WSI) systems could accelerate and improve the diagnosis of malignant neoplasms without the need of on-site pathologist or transporting diagnostic material in-between different locations. The implementation of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with fine needle aspiration (FNA) in diagnostic process of advanced lung cancer creates a new field for telepathology utilization. In selected patients, pathomorphological and genetic diagnosis may take less than a week and therapeutic decisions can be made in a short time. There are several important issues that concern the use of telepathology and WSI in everyday clinical environment. This short review presents the pros and cons of this technology and its applicability in rapid diagnosis of lung cancer, its utilization in connection with novel sampling methods and molecular analysis.