Fully digital pathology laboratory routine and remote reporting of oral and maxillofacial diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic: a validation study

• DOI: 10.1007/s00428-021-03075-9
• Publication Date: 2021-03-13T08:02:27Z
• Authors: Anna Luíza Damace...; Gleyson Kleber do...; Maria Eduarda Pér...; Karen Patricia Do...; Cinthia Veronica ...; Ana Luiza Oliveir...; Amanda Almeida Leite; Bruno Augusto Lin...; Carla Isabelly Ro...; Felipe Paiva Fonseca; Marcio Ajudarte L...; Paul M. Speight; Syed Ali Khurram; Jacks Jorge Júnior; Manoela Domingues...; Oslei Paes de Alm...; Alan Roger Santos...; Pablo Agustin Vargas
• Keywords: Digital Pathology; Pandemic; Grading (engineering); Epithelial dysplasia

The role of digital pathology in remote reporting has seen an increase during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, recommendations had been made regarding urgent need reorganizing head and neck cancer diagnostic services to provide a safe work environment for staff. A total 162 glass slides from 109 patients over period 5 weeks were included this validation assessed by all pathologists both analyses (digital conventional) allow intraobserver comparison. agreement between method (DM) conventional (CM) was considered almost perfect (κ ranged 0.85 0.98, with 95% CI, ranging 0.81 1). most significant frequent disagreements within trainees encompassed epithelial dysplasia grading differentiation among severe (carcinoma situ) oral squamous cell carcinoma. pitfall DM lag screen mirroring. lack details inflammatory cells higher magnification assess pointed one case each. crisis accelerated consolidated use online meeting tools, which would be valuable resource even post-pandemic scenario. Adaptation laboratory workflow, advent can mitigate impact similar future disruptions maxillofacial workflow avoiding delays diagnosis report, facilitate timely management patients.