Evaluation of a low-cost digital camera for use in telemedicine applications

The project tested the feasibility of using a consumer digital camera to ph otograph radiographic images and transmit them to a telemedicine hub site. Two orthopedic surgeons and two radiologists reviewed 40 bone trauma cases on a monitor and film, and rated image quality. There were no significant d ifferences in diagnostic accuracy between conventional film and telemedicin e reading. Diagnostic agreement between film and monitor viewing was quite high, as was agreement in confidence ratings, Image quality was generally r ated as excellent to good in both viewing conditions. Cases that: did not c orrelate well were judged to have poor image quality or diagnoses were base d on photographs that had part of the diagnostic region of interest cropped off.