STRUCTURED ENTRY OF RADIOLOGY REPORTS USING WORLD-WIDE-WEB TECHNOLOGY

Structured data entry-in which information is entered by using predete rmined data elements and formats - has the potential to improve the ra diology reporting process, The dependence on particular computer hardw are and software platforms has posed a barrier to wider use of this ap proach, The World Wide Web (WWW), a client-server protocol for deliver y of multimedia data via the Internet, was used to achieve platform-in dependent structured entry of radiology reports. A developmental syste m for structured entry of radiology reports, called SPIDER, incorporat es a knowledge base of hierarchically organized concepts, a WWW server , and two specialized programs, The WebForm program transforms the sys tem's knowledge into graphical WWW data-entry forms; the WebReport pro gram converts data entered on these forms into outline-format reports, SPIDER received favorable evaluations from sonographers and physician s who used the system to record the results of several test cases. WWW technology can be used to achieve platform-independent entry of the r esults of radiologic procedures.