Optimization of a teleradiology system between two geriatrics hospitals and the Radiology Department of a University Center

The routine use of a 64 kb/sec Numeris network requires that a compromise b e reached between image quality and time required for image transfer. Our g oal was to present our experience and describe our choices when reporting e xaminations for two geriatric hospitals located at a short distance from ou r radiology department. Different digitization parameters were tested (reso lution, compression) for In plain films corresponding to the usual clinical situations: abdominal X ray, chest X ray, wrist, spine and pelvis X rays. A subjective analysis of the global quality and of the quality of a region of interest enlarged twelve times has been performed. After result analysis , our choices were: digitization using 75 or 150 DPI and systematic use of a reversible compression format. This system proved satisfactory for both c linicians and radiologists; since its implementation, 1 800 files have been reviewed.