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Java-based remote viewing and processing of nuclear medicine images: toward "the imaging department without walls".
J Nucl Med. 2000 Jan; 41(1):111-8.JN

Abstract

In nuclear medicine practice, images often need to be reviewed and reports prepared from locations outside the department, usually in the form of hard copy. Although hard-copy images are simple and portable, they do not offer electronic data search and image manipulation capabilities. On the other hand, picture archiving and communication systems or dedicated workstations cannot be easily deployed at numerous locations. To solve this problem, we propose a Java-based remote viewing station (JaRViS) for the reading and reporting of nuclear medicine images using Internet browser technology.

METHODS

JaRViS interfaces to the clinical patient database of a nuclear medicine workstation. All JaRViS software resides on a nuclear medicine department server. The contents of the clinical database can be searched by a browser interface after providing a password. Compressed images with the Java applet and color lookup tables are downloaded on the client side. This paradigm does not require nuclear medicine software to reside on remote computers, which simplifies support and deployment of such a system. To enable versatile reporting of the images, color tables and thresholds can be interactively manipulated and images can be displayed in a variety of layouts. Image filtering, frame grouping (adding frames), and movie display are available. Tomographic mode displays are supported, including gated SPECT.

RESULTS

The time to display 14 lung perfusion images in 128 x 128 matrix together with the Java applet and color lookup tables over a V.90 modem is <1 min. SPECT and PET slice reorientation is interactive (<1 s). JaRViS could run on a Windows 95/98/NT or a Macintosh platform with Netscape Communicator or Microsoft Intemet Explorer. The performance of Java code for bilinear interpolation, cine display, and filtering approaches that of a standard imaging workstation.

CONCLUSION

It is feasible to set up a remote nuclear medicine viewing station using Java and an Internet or intranet browser. Images can be made easily and cost-effectively available to referring physicians and ambulatory clinics within and outside of the hospital, providing a convenient alternative to film media. We also find this system useful in home reporting of emergency procedures such as lung ventilation-perfusion scans or dynamic studies.

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Slomka PJ
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Elliott E
No affiliation info available
Driedger AA
No affiliation info available

MeSH

HumansInternetRadiology Information SystemsRemote ConsultationSoftwareTeleradiology

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

10647613

Citation

Slomka, P J., et al. "Java-based Remote Viewing and Processing of Nuclear Medicine Images: Toward "the Imaging Department Without Walls"." Journal of Nuclear Medicine : Official Publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine, vol. 41, no. 1, 2000, pp. 111-8.
Slomka PJ, Elliott E, Driedger AA. Java-based remote viewing and processing of nuclear medicine images: toward "the imaging department without walls". J Nucl Med. 2000;41(1):111-8.
Slomka, P. J., Elliott, E., & Driedger, A. A. (2000). Java-based remote viewing and processing of nuclear medicine images: toward "the imaging department without walls". Journal of Nuclear Medicine : Official Publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine, 41(1), 111-8.
Slomka PJ, Elliott E, Driedger AA. Java-based Remote Viewing and Processing of Nuclear Medicine Images: Toward "the Imaging Department Without Walls". J Nucl Med. 2000;41(1):111-8. PubMed PMID: 10647613.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Java-based remote viewing and processing of nuclear medicine images: toward "the imaging department without walls". AU - Slomka,P J, AU - Elliott,E, AU - Driedger,A A, PY - 2000/1/27/pubmed PY - 2000/2/26/medline PY - 2000/1/27/entrez SP - 111 EP - 8 JF - Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine JO - J Nucl Med VL - 41 IS - 1 N2 - UNLABELLED: In nuclear medicine practice, images often need to be reviewed and reports prepared from locations outside the department, usually in the form of hard copy. Although hard-copy images are simple and portable, they do not offer electronic data search and image manipulation capabilities. On the other hand, picture archiving and communication systems or dedicated workstations cannot be easily deployed at numerous locations. To solve this problem, we propose a Java-based remote viewing station (JaRViS) for the reading and reporting of nuclear medicine images using Internet browser technology. METHODS: JaRViS interfaces to the clinical patient database of a nuclear medicine workstation. All JaRViS software resides on a nuclear medicine department server. The contents of the clinical database can be searched by a browser interface after providing a password. Compressed images with the Java applet and color lookup tables are downloaded on the client side. This paradigm does not require nuclear medicine software to reside on remote computers, which simplifies support and deployment of such a system. To enable versatile reporting of the images, color tables and thresholds can be interactively manipulated and images can be displayed in a variety of layouts. Image filtering, frame grouping (adding frames), and movie display are available. Tomographic mode displays are supported, including gated SPECT. RESULTS: The time to display 14 lung perfusion images in 128 x 128 matrix together with the Java applet and color lookup tables over a V.90 modem is <1 min. SPECT and PET slice reorientation is interactive (<1 s). JaRViS could run on a Windows 95/98/NT or a Macintosh platform with Netscape Communicator or Microsoft Intemet Explorer. The performance of Java code for bilinear interpolation, cine display, and filtering approaches that of a standard imaging workstation. CONCLUSION: It is feasible to set up a remote nuclear medicine viewing station using Java and an Internet or intranet browser. Images can be made easily and cost-effectively available to referring physicians and ambulatory clinics within and outside of the hospital, providing a convenient alternative to film media. We also find this system useful in home reporting of emergency procedures such as lung ventilation-perfusion scans or dynamic studies. SN - 0161-5505 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/10647613/Java_based_remote_viewing_and_processing_of_nuclear_medicine_images:_toward_"the_imaging_department_without_walls"_ L2 - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&amp;pmid=10647613 DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -