Telepathology: An audit

Abstract

Telepathology is a relatively young medical technology; consequently, further long-term studies with regard to patient advantages, cost effectiveness, and safety are required before the technology can be integrated into the mainstream health-care system. Telepathology services are not going away, but the field is changing. As with many young industries, telepathology seems to redefine itself on a fairly regular basis - changing to meet the demand of managing more and larger diagnostic images. The market is growing worldwide annually, due, in large part, to the approval of procedures. In addition, given better acceptance in the general marketplace among pathologists, surgeons, hospitals, and patients, this growth will likely increase. It must be noted that the growth of imaging technology and telecommunication technology will directly support and help the growth of telepathology, because these are, of course, an integral part of telepathology. © Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2009.