RESUMO
PURPOSE: the development of a cost-effective diagnostic system for transmitting high-resolution images on normal phone lines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 486 PC with super VGA screen, 16,800-band external modem and graphic software. RESULTS: the graphic software allows the PC to be connected to the video output of MRI, CT or US units, or to a video camera as in the case of X-ray units. Image spatial resolution is as high as 1,024 x 768 lines. Transmission times are lower than 45 seconds, corresponding to files of 50-80 kbytes. In 6 months, more than 130 Megabytes (500 images) were transmitted between our diagnostic center and our consultants in northern Italy, France and California. CONCLUSIONS: this cost-effective teleradiology system allows real-time image transmissions between diagnostic centers all over the world for scientific updating and quick reference purposes. Portable units can be developed.
