Pathology consultation services via the Arizona-International Telemedicine Network.

The Arizona-International Telemedicine Network (AITN) links 4 cities in Arizona and two international sites in China and Mexico, into a telepathology diagnostic network. Established in 1993, the Network provides second opinions on surgical pathology and cytopathology cases. Workstations are 486 PC-based computers. Static images (1024 x 774 x 8 pixels) are grabbed with a variable resolution video camera and sent by 14,400 bit per second modems over ordinary telephone lines. Second opinions are either rendered directly by a general telepathologist or triaged to a specialist. Experience with the first 37 cases indicates a high level of success in providing useful information to referring pathologists over the Network.