Introduction

摘要

Radiology has been both a benefactor and an innovator in leveraging the power of the Internet to promote rapid access to complex imaging studies throughout an institution or a referral network. The days of a patient carting film jackets to the doctors office has given way to the lightweight alternative of compact discs. Moreover, Internet based enterprise image distribution systems now offer physicians the convenience of remotely reviewing imaging studies from the office almost as soon as they are acquired. Trips to the hospital or imaging center file room are a thing of the past. Consultations with the Radiologist can be performed in a virtual environment through live collaborative workspaces that permit the referring physician and radiologist to review and discuss imaging studies despite being separated geographically by many miles. The global Internet of today makes it relatively simple for a Radiologist located on the other side of the world to interpret and generate a report on an imaging study from virtually anywhere with an Internet connection.