Web-based Approach to Teaching Diagnostic Cytology Using a "Virtual" Microscope

Web-based Approach to Teaching Diagnostic Cytology using a "Virtual" Microscope

 

W Wang, MD, PhD, S Dee, MD, A Naqvi, MD, S Stowell, C Steele, J Woo, PhD Department of Pathology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York

 

ABSTRACT:

 

Teaching diagnostic cytology has traditionally relied on review of microscopic slides to evaluate cells obtained from a lesion for identifying abnormal cells and diagnosing disease. This process is time consuming and is increasingly unsuitable in the current teaching environment. The Web format is particularly suited for teaching and learning cytology because of its visually oriented discipline. We have developed an interactive cytology case study module involving evaluation of pap smears and non-GYN cytology specimens with a "virtual" microscope. This allows students to evaluate a large portion of a glass slide, using panning and zooming functions, rather than simply viewing one or two static fields. This technology is thus similar to actually using a microscope. The Web-based module allows students to learn at their own pace and should serve as a viable supplement to the traditional study of glass slides.

 

The module is designed based on the database-driven web page concept using FileMaker Pro to create the database and CDML/JavaScript/HTML to develop the Web display. The module begins with an introductory tutorial of commonly encountered diseases categorized into GYN and non-GYN sections, and the non-GYN section may be further broken down to organ/system. Each disease is illustrated by actual patient cases with corresponding clinical history and associated microscopic images for evaluation. With simple clicks of the mouse, the student views images at low power that can be panned and zoomed to high magnification; hot spots are also provided to display explanatory comments. A list of questions with answers guides the student to the correct diagnosis. The diagnosis is then linked to PubMed for instant retrieval of recent relevant articles from the medical literature. Web-based cross-references are linked for review, and unknown cases are available as post-study quizzes.  This module is primarily aimed at Pathology residency level. However, contents in the module may be layered for use by medical students, cytotechnologists, and cytotechnology students.

 

BENEFIT TO PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING SESSION:

 Participants will learn from this presentation: 1) a viable self-directed approach to learning diagnostic cytology at one's own pace, 2) the advantages of using integrated databases in the organization and display of information, and 3) the ability to enrich learning by providing links to other cytology cases, images, and references through the Internet.

 

Weichen Wang, MD, PhD

Department of Pathology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse NY 13210

Phone: 315-464-7161

Fax: 315-464-7130  Email: wangw@upstate.edu

CO-AUTHORS:

S Dee, MD, A Naqvi, MD, S Stowell, C Steele, J Woo, PhD

Department of Pathology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse NY 13210

Phone: 315-464-7123 (for all)

315-464-6717 (JW)  Fax: 315-464-7130

Email: dees@upstate.edu, naqvia@upstate.edu, stowells@upstate.edu steelec@upstate.edu, wooj@upstate.edu

Website: http://pathed.upstate.edu:8080/path_confern/frame.htm