Simple and low-cost tele-nuclear medicine conference system with the e-mail protocol

Purpose: Because of the recent innovative growth in computer technology, di gital imaging, and the Internet, we can take advantage of these facilities for education and clinical work in nuclear medicine. We developed a tele-nu clear medicine conference system with electronic mail (e-mail) on the Inter net. Methods: Twenty-one physicians (20 radiologists, 1 neurologist), 6 tec hnologists and 2 medical students in six university hospitals (Japan 5, Can ada 1), 5 local hospitals in Japan participated in this project. We used di gital still cameras (330 k pixels) equipped with a floppy disk drive and 10 x optical zoom to digitize images with JPEG compression (640 x 480 matrix) . The images were attached to e-mail messages (containing a brief descripti on of each case). The mail was sent simultaneously to all members on the ma iling list. Scintigram and SPECT images as well as other radiological image s were sent by e-mail. Reply mails about each case were sent to all members via the mailing list. Results: During a period of 6 months, 18 cases (tumo r/infection: 7, bone: 6, cardiovascular: 1, neurology; 3, endocrine: 1) wit h 144 e-mails. (average 5.6/case) were submitted to the conference. The ave rage period of discussion was 15.6 days. The number of attached images was 1 to 9 (average, 4.2/e-mails). JPEG compression rate was 1/10 to 1/20. The quality of the images was good enough for discussion. Some cases required a dditional images for further discussion. Conclusion: Our tele-nuclear medic ine conference with an electronic mailing list and digital camera was simpl e and low-cost. The conference system was useful for education and clinical work.