Towards a Peer-Reviewed and Updated Image and Case Bank by The American Society of Hematology (ASH)

Emmanuel C. Besa, MD

MCP Hahnemann University

Abstract:

The ASH slide bank started in 1972 as contributions of members to Dr. James McArthur of interesting slides representing morphological features of hematologic disorders. This collection has accumulated at least 4600 images in its current CD-ROM (Heme CD Plus) and about 2300 images in seven teaching sets which were produced by the Center for Educational Resources of the Health Sciences at the University of Washington. ASH was not actively involved other than paying for transport of materials to the Annual Meetings and providing space in the Exhibition Hall.

Objective:

To determine the content and appropriateness to the current state of knowledge and recommendations for the Society's involvement.

Methods:

In a three-day retreat, a group of Educational committee members and chair (5) and invited experts in the field from the USA and France (3) reviewed the slide bank by dividing topics according to their expertise. Each participant was asked to review about 300 images prior to the meeting and grade them from A-keep, B-good presentation & can be fixed digitally, C-not great but unusual and hard to duplicate and D-discard. The whole group votes in agreement or disagreement to the single expert's grading.

Results:

Over 2 full-days, 1960 images were reviewed by the group with relevant discussion and only 820 (40%) were rated as acceptable images with the remaining 60% to be permanently discarded and replaced. Furthermore, the legends or descriptions for each of the kept images were useless and erroneous in some cases and needs to be rewritten, expanded and supported by modern FISH, flow and cytogenetic, electrophoretic or other data.

Recommendations:

The basis of a superb quality Image Bank will require the creation of a dedicated editorial board consisting of a chief and three associate editors under the Committee of Educational Affairs. A programmatic base for the image bank needs to be established and was submitted by the review subcommittee to establish a database with better indexing and search terms. This body will determine what materials are needed to build the bank which will be solicited from the membership. Expertise in the subject will be solicited based on the programmatic topic and the editors will thoroughly review material submitted and accept/reject based on explicit criteria and high standards of quality. These materials with case development will eventually be made available in the Internet for access by members and nonmembers. CME and possible revenue >from this materials will be reviewed in the future. Collaboration with others (ie. European Society of Hemopathology, USCAP, or ASCO) and individual like Dr. Flandrin will be encouraged.

Benefit in Attending Session:

This will offer a solution to the Peer review problem we have in current image and case banks in existence and those being planned for future groups. The scientific societies may be organizations that will take on the responsibility of peer and quality control.

PRIMARY AUTHOR'S INFORMATION

Emmanuel C. Besa, M.D.

MCP Hahnemann University

3300 Henry Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19129

Telephone Number: 215-842-6980

Fax Number: 215-843-3620

E-mail Address: emmanuel.besa@drexel.edu