Evaluation of medical decision support systems (DDX generators) using real medical cases of varying complexity and origin.

Background: Medical decision support systems (CDSSs) are increasingly used in medicine, but their utility in daily medical practice is difficult to evaluate. One variant of CDSS is a generator of differential diagnoses (DDx generator). We performed a feasibility study on three different, publicly available data sets of medical cases in order to identify the frequency in which two different DDx generators provide helpful information (either by providing a list of differential diagnosis or recognizing the expert diagnosis if available) for a given case report.

[Experiences with telepathology in northern Afghanistan : A 10-year success story].

Afghanistan is in a military conflict lasting more than 20 years and according to recent political development, in a downhill spiral towards a failed society. This scenario faces the question of the usefulness of international medical aid, especially morphological diagnostics in crisis situations. On the basis of ten years of experience from a telemedicine project, need, feasibility and results in Afghanistan will be discussed.

The Importance of Clinical Data for the Diagnosis of Breast Tumours in North Afghanistan.

Background: This study was performed in knowledge of the increasing gap between breast disease treatment in countries with restricted resources and developed countries with increasingly sophisticated examination methods.

Methods: The authors present the analysis of a breast disease register consisting of diagnostic cases from Mazar e Sharif and Herat in 2018 and 2019. The study comprises a total of 567 cases, which were presented to experts via telemedicine for final diagnosis.

Telepathological evaluation of paediatric histological specimens in support of a hospital in Tanzania.

Background/objective: In a project of telepathology (TP) between German pathologists and a hospital in Tanzania, trained technical assistants have uploaded digital histological images onto the internet-based platform ipath. The diagnoses from 486 paediatric specimens were analysed.

Methods: The investigation included diagnoses, either primarily done via TP or secondarily after a further workup of the paraffin-embedded tissue, which was sent to Germany for cases which could not be solved via TP.

How can we strengthen pathology services in Cambodia?

Rapid economic growth and a changing disease burden have increased the demand for pathology services in Cambodia. This paper describes the status of pathological services and international support for pathology professionals in Cambodia, and discusses future needs for strengthening pathology services. In 2016, there were only four pathologists and 18 pathology technologists in Cambodia.