The journal article Virtual Microscopy and the Internet as Telepathology Consultation Tools nicely demonstrates how the technology boom is being utilized to improve the practice of medicine. And the patient reaps the benefit. Using telepathology (combined videomicroscopy and telecommunication), clear, high-resolution microscopic images of processed and stained tissue biopsies are snapped with a digital camera, and shipped in seconds via the internet to an out of state specialist for consultation. Within minutes, a diagnosis is made, and the result is emailed or called to the referring physician. Just like that. Commonly, tissue specimens, slides and other materials are sent via regular or express mail, requiring significant time lags and expense. Thirty-five gastrointestinal biopsies were photographed and saved in compressed JPEG format prior to 5 to 10 minute email transmissions. The authors report a 100% success rate with the email process, and the transferred images could be magnified up to 600% without significant degradation. Over 90% diagnostic concordance was achieved when compared with the original material. The systems are remarkably inexpensive and available.

Consider several examples of how this technology might be applied to forensic medicine. Photographs of a close range gunshot wound of the chest and a portion of projectile from a homicide victim in New York are emailed to a forensic pathologist in Kansas who fields questions about range of fire, type of gunpowder, and characteristics of the bullet. Images of bones recovered from the desert in New Mexico are examined on the laptop of an anthropologist in California who determines origin as human or nonhuman, and the age, sex and race of the individual. Dental x-rays from a family dentist are sent to a medical examiner in another state who excludes or confirms the identity of a decomposed man. Digital photographs of evidence and injuries are transferred to desktops of the appropriate consultants, members of law enforcement and attorneys in a matter of seconds. The potential is boundless.

It is clear the results will have a big influence on how we assist the court; the question is, how big?

Singson, et al. (1999). Virtual microscopy and the internet as telepathology consultation tools: a study of gastrointestinal biopsy specimens, Am J Gun Pathol, 111:792-795.