Virtuelle Organisation im digitalen Zeitalter der Radiologie - Prinzip und Lösung für die radiologische Forschung?∗

Informatics in radiology (infoRAD): new tools for computer assistance in thoracic CT part 2. Therapy monitoring of pulmonary metastases

Owing to the rapid development of scanner technology, thoracic computed tomography (CT) offers new possibilities but also faces enormous challenges with respect to the quality of computer-assisted diagnosis and therapy planning. In the framework of the Virtual Institute for Computer Assistance in Clinical Radiology cooperative research project, a software application was developed to assist the radiologist in the analysis of thoracic CT data for the purpose of evaluating the response to tumor therapy. The application provides follow-up support for monitoring of tumor therapy by means of volumetric quantification of tumors and temporal registration. In addition, anatomically adequate three-dimensional visualization techniques for convenient examination of large data sets are included. With close cooperation between computer scientists and radiologists, the application was tested and optimized to achieve a high degree of usability. Several clinical studies were carried out, the results of which indicated that the application improves therapy monitoring with respect to accuracy and time required.

[KIS-RIS-PACS integration: the Marburg approach]

When describing the development of data processing at the Department of Radiology at the Philipps University of Marburg, three phases can be identified covering the areas of patient care, education, and research as well as administrative and organizational aspects. The first phase (1987-1995) was centered on radiology and characterized by the early implementation of the radiology information system (RIS) and installation of a picture archiving and communication system (PACS). The experiences gained during this phase led to intensive discussion on application-oriented information processing. The second phase (1996-2000) describes the changes in the general framework brought by Internet technology and international standards. The course was set for the future of data processing in the hospital setting. The phase ended with implementation of a clinical workplace system (KAS) as the basis for a comprehensive electronic patient record and the switch in radiology to an integrated RIS solution. The third phase (2001-2006) addressed further implementation and development of clinical data management in which both regular documentation of patient data and information processing not related to patients are optimized by making use of Intranet/Internet technology. It includes the hospital wide implementation of PACS and the forthcoming phase of information processing increasingly shaped by workflow and decision support.