Teleconsultation

Abstract

This chapter covers the spectrum of teleconsultations as a tool to improve the quality of care. After an historical background review, this chapter explains how the introduction of digital pathology revolutionized the practice of pathology but raised new challenges. In this century of increasing diagnostic complexity, personalized medicine and molecular pathology, obtaining the opinion of an expert may significantly impact on patient management. Expert opinions may be required as part of either intraoperative consultation (frozen section), macroscopic examination, autopsy and cytology. Therefore, digital pathology allows obtaining a quick expert opinion, regardless of the physical distance. With the increase in knowledge and complexity of pathology, teleconsultations are expected to expand and the efficiency of technological tools will need to improve.