Although it is ideal that a hospital has full-time radiologists for image diagnosis, it is quite difficult to retain a full-time radiologist in a small hospital because of a shortage of radiologists. In our hospital, CT films were formerly sent to the hospital that had full-time radiologists by mail and diagnostic information was obtained a few days later. Since May 2003 we have introduced teleradiology using SECOM HOSPI-NET system. We transmit a diagnostic request form and CT images using ISDN line. We receive a diagnostic message on the following day. We are able to gain diagnostic information timely. Therefore, we report the usage, reliability, and user-friendliness of this system in comparison with the mailing system from the aspect of responsiveness, economical efficiency, and operating efficiency.
Hospitals ; NET questionnaire ; System ; Teleradiology ; X-Ray Computed Tomography

The statistical characteristic is the key to image compression. Here we have studied the statistical characteristic of wavelet subimage, and designed a new image quantization algorithm referred to statistical characteristics of both wavelet subimage and human visual.
Algorithms ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Linear Models ; Teleradiology

PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate the clinical usefulness of teleradiology in general dental practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and seventy five cases were submitted for inquiry to the case presentation board of the website of The Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology for a 5 year periods. The diagnosis results of those cases were analyzed according to the disease classification, the correlation with the patient's chief complaint, the necessity of additional examinations or treatments, the image modalities, and the number of dentists inquiring. RESULTS: Differential diagnoses of normal anatomic structures were the most frequently submitted cases, covering 15.6% of all cases. Among 275 cases, 164 cases required no additional treatments or examinations. Panoramic radiographs were the most frequently submitted images, accounting for 248 inquiries. The 275 cases were submitted by 96 dentists. Fifty-two dentists wrote one inquiry, and 44 inquired 2 or more times. The average inquiry number of the latter group was 5.0 cases. CONCLUSION: A teleradiology system in general dental practice could be helpful in the differential diagnosis of common lesions and reduce unnecessary costs.
Accounting ; Dentists ; Diagnosis, Differential ; General Practice, Dental ; Humans ; Teleradiology

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical utility of the teleradiology system using the information super highway communication network. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two radiologists selected 101 cases of pneumothorax and 20 cases ofmiliary tuberculosis. There were scanned and transmitted to our hospital at a speed of 640 Kbps and displayed on avideo monitor with a resolution of 1280 pixels/line x 1024 lines. Four radiologists divided into three groups :read the images group A read the images without image processing ; group B read the images with image processing, group C read the radiographic films on the view box. The authors compared sensitivity and specificity between thegroups and checked their statistical significance using the Chi-square test. According to the location of thepleural line, we divided the pneumothorax into four types : continve on this live type 1, pleural line confined tothe apex ; type 2, to the upper half ; type 3, to the lower half ; type 4, to the upper through lower half. We then compared sensitivity between the Three groups. RESULTS: In the pneumothorax group, the average sensitivity of group A, B and C was 79%, 90% and 96%, and average specificity was 99%, 99% and 94%, respectively. There were statistically significant differences in seasitivity between group A and B and between group B and C (p<0.017). There were no statistically significant difference in specificity between group A and B or between group B and C.In the miliary tuberculosis group, the average sensitivity of group A, B and C was 73%, 78% and 90%, and average specificity was 95%, 95% and 100%, respectively. With regard to sensitivity and specificity, there was no statistically significant difference between group A and B or between group B and C but there was a statistically significant difference between group A and C (p<0.017). According to the location of the pneumothorax, for alltypes, the sensitivity of group A was less than that of group B and group B was less than that of group C. CONCLUSION: All groups showed reduced observer performance in the detection of pneumothorax and miliary tuberculosis when reading a transmitted image on the monitor-workstation compared with reading conventional radiographs on the view box. To improve the clinical utility of the teleradiology system, a higher resolution workstation and adequate image processing are required.
Pneumothorax* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Teleradiology* ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Miliary* ; X-Ray Film

We developed the Tele-PACS of radiology, which uses the communication network as asymmetric satellite data communication system. The asymmetric satellite data communication system uses receive-only satellite links for data delivery and PSTN(Public Switched Telephone Network) modem or N-ISDN(Narrow-band Integrate Services Digital Network) for communication. The satellite communication linking we implemented showed the very high-speed performance compared to the terrestrial linking such as 28.8 kbps modem linking or 56Kbps linking. The satellite linking was 5-10 times faster than the terrestrial linking on the average. We developed the down-link system of satellite and the medical collaborative tools and the Web-based Image-viewer. We concluded that 1) Satellite networking is currently the cheapest and fastest solution for internet access. 2) Web-based Image-Viewer enables small size hospitals in rural area to connect to the central PACS easily and to retrieve the image data reliably. 3) The suggested teleradiology system using satellite networking could be adequate to the fast telemedicine and telecare for rural hospitals especially located in geographically isolated areas such as islands.
Hospitals, Rural ; Internet ; Islands ; Modems ; Satellite Communications ; Telemedicine ; Telephone ; Teleradiology

We developed the Tele-PACS of radiology, which uses the communication network as asymmetric satellite data communication system. The asymmetric satellite data communication system uses receive-only satellite links for data delivery and PSTN(Public Switched Telephone Network) modem or N-ISDN(Narrow-band Integrate Services Digital Network) for communication. The satellite communication linking we implemented showed the very high-speed performance compared to the terrestrial linking such as 28.8 kbps modem linking or 56Kbps linking. The satellite linking was 5-10 times faster than the terrestrial linking on the average. We developed the down-link system of satellite and the medical collaborative tools and the Web-based Image-viewer. We concluded that 1) Satellite networking is currently the cheapest and fastest solution for internet access. 2) Web-based Image-Viewer enables small size hospitals in rural area to connect to the central PACS easily and to retrieve the image data reliably. 3) The suggested teleradiology system using satellite networking could be adequate to the fast telemedicine and telecare for rural hospitals especially located in geographically isolated areas such as islands.
Hospitals, Rural ; Internet ; Islands ; Modems ; Satellite Communications ; Telemedicine ; Telephone ; Teleradiology

This paper introduces the design and development of a teleimaging diagnosis system by using B/S mode. A detailed design on the telediagnosis process and telediagnosis management is presented, focusing on resolving medical image transmission, management and display in the internet, and is trying to integrate the teleimaging diagnosis system with PACS.
Diagnostic Imaging ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; Internet ; Software Design ; Teleradiology ; methods

In clinical surgery, there are frequent needs for communication between the house staff and the attending physician in an emergency situation. To overcome the limitation of voice communication through the telephone line, we have designed an 'emergency teleradiology system' which can be used for emergency surgical and medical decision making. This system can transmit the high quality images of CT, MRI, and other X-ray data using a PC attached to a modem through the conventional telephone line. It is based on the progressive transmission system which enables the successive update of a received image. The iterative residual coding/decoding algorithm efficiently compresses the image to maximally utilize the low bandwidth PSTN channels. This system also satisfies design requirements such as low-cost, ease of operation, fast transmission, and interactive image communication including voice. Test results using several CT, MR, and X-ray images evaluate the compression performance, image quality, transmission time and computational time of the coding and decoding processes, thus demonstrate the usefulness of this system in an emergency situation.
Algorithms ; Human ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; *Information Systems ; Software Design ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Teleradiology/*methods

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Information technology and mobile devices may be beneficial and useful in many aspects of stroke management, including recognition of stroke, transport and triage of patients, emergent stroke evaluation at the hospital, and rehabilitation. In this review, we address the contributions of information technology and mobile health to stroke management. SUMMARY OF ISSUES: Rapid detection and triage are essential for effective thrombolytic treatment. Awareness of stroke warning signs and responses to stroke could be enhanced by using mobile applications. Furthermore, prehospital assessment and notification could be streamlined for use in telemedicine and teleradiology. A mobile telemedicine system for assessing the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores has shown higher correlation and fast assessment comparing with face-to-face method. Because the benefits of thrombolytic treatment are time-dependent, treatment should be initiated as quickly as possible. In-hospital communication between multidisciplinary team members can be enhanced using information technology. A computerized in-hospital alert system using computerized physician-order entry was shown to be effective in reducing the time intervals from hospital arrival to medical evaluations and thrombolytic treatment. Mobile devices can also be used as supplementary tools for neurologic examination and clinical decision-making. In post-stroke rehabilitation, virtual reality and telerehabilitation are helpful. Mobile applications might be useful for public awareness, lifestyle modification, and education/training of healthcare professionals. CONCLUSIONS: Information technology and mobile health are useful tools for management of stroke patients from the acute period to rehabilitation. Further improvement of technology will change and enhance stroke prevention and treatment.
Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Life Style ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Neurologic Examination ; Stroke ; Telemedicine ; Teleradiology ; Triage

Considering the real conditions in China, the strategy and scheme of DICOM-E-Mail's clinical applications in China are discussed in this paper.
China ; Computer Communication Networks ; Electronic Mail ; instrumentation ; standards ; Radiology Information Systems ; instrumentation ; standards ; Teleradiology ; instrumentation ; standards