Improvement in the management of cancer patients: Digital ultrasound documentation

Background: Ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) as well as magnetic res onance imaging (MRI) are known to be sensitive imaging tools in the managem ent of cancer patients. Ultrasound has disadvantages for the follow-up, sin ce standardized documentation is lacking. Therefore, we investigated comput er-assisted digital ultrasound documentation in cancer patients. Patients a nd Methods: From November 1996 to December 1997 ultrasound examinations wer e performed on 774 patients (leukemias n = 204, malignant lymphomas n = 311 , solid tumors n = 103, miscellaneous n = 156). Ultrasound pictures were tr ansferred to a personal computer (PC) by video signal transmission. Results : A total of 1,925 ultrasound examinations were documented in 377 men and 3 97 women. The mean age was 50.3 years, with an SD of 16.7 (range 16-97) yea rs. A median of 2.8 ultrasound examinations per patient was performed (rang e 1-16 examinations), A total number of 9,311 ultrasound pictures was archi ved on a hard disc. Archived ultrasound pictures were compared with live ul trasound pictures, improving the comparability and quality of ultrasound. A nalogue video print documentation was not necessary. Conclusion: Computer-a ssisted documentation of ultrasound pictures improves the management of can cer patients.