Abstract
Objectives: Leukemia diagnosis in Vietnam is limited by a lack of hematopathology training and expert consultation as well as the cost of high-magnification digitization of hematology slides. Screen-sharing software allows international collaboration with experienced hematopathologists for improved diagnostic accuracy. Methods: A hematopathology education and consultation program was proposed for Vietnam hospitals. By appointment, pathologists in Vietnam with access to a microscope camera, imaging software, and high-speed internet were invited to review slides and data with a volunteer board-certified hematopathologist in the United States using secure videoconferencing software. A single hospital in southern Vietnam assigned a pathologist proficient in English to access this service. All consultations from this site with clinicopathologic information were logged. After a 2-year period of online consultation, case slides for selected diagnoses were reviewed under the microscope in Vietnam to assess concordance. Results: In total, 135 consultations were logged, 53 of which were for blood and bone marrow. T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T-LGLL) was 1 of the most frequent bone marrow consultation-related diagnoses; all diagnoses of this entity were confirmed by in-person microscopy (100% concordance). A records search and physician surveys found no prior documented diagnoses of T-LGLL made in Vietnam before this education and consultation program. Conclusions: Our virtual consultation model has improved patient care in Vietnam by providing correct diagnoses to inform best practices in treatment. As a result of our program, the first Vietnam diagnoses of T-LGLL were made and may help expand on the literature in this area. This model could provide cost-effective, real-time consultation and education services for pathologists in underserved communities.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 162-169 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | American journal of clinical pathology |
Volume | 161 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 1 2024 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of American Society for Clinical Pathology. All rights reserved.
Keywords
- emerging economies
- graduate medical education
- hematopathology
- pure red cell aplasia
- T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia
- telepathology
- WHO-HAEM5 beta version online
PubMed: MeSH publication types
- Journal Article