PMID: 11604859Oct 18, 2001Paper

Evaluation of a telemedicine system for supporting thyroid disease diagnosis

Studies in Health Technology and Informatics
K YokotaM Tomonaga

Abstract

A telemedicine system connecting Japan and Belarus via a communication satellite and the international ISDN has been in use since February, 1999. Two relational databases, which are essentially the same, are set respectively at Nagasaki University School of Medicine and Gomel Regional Specialized Dispensary in Belarus for management of patients' data and for research including epidemiologic studies. The thyroid ultrasonographic images, microscopic images of cytological findings and other information on patients are sent from Gomel to Nagasaki once a week with diagnoses and comments by physicians at Gomel Regional Specialized Dispensary for cases whom they found difficult to diagnose. Thyroid specialists at Nagasaki University School of Medicine correct the diagnoses, if necessary, on the basis of information from Gomel and send their comments and instructions to Gomel for improving diagnosis skills of physicians at Gomel. The findings of 330 cases have been sent from Gomel to Nagasaki by September, 2000 since the commencement of the system in February, 1999. Of the 329 cases, thyroid diagnosis was made at Gomel for 261 cases in whom two or more diagnoses were made for 35 cases. As of the end of October, 2000, the Gomel diagnose...Continue Reading

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