Rapid wireless transmission of head CT images to a personal digital assistant for remote consultation.
OBJECTIVE
We describe a simple technique for transmission of a complete set of cranial computed tomography (CT) images to a commercially available wireless personal digital assistant (PDA) for remote teleradiology consultation.


METHODS
A complete set of images from the head CT of a trauma patient with subdural hematoma (19 images) was captured from a picture archiving and communication system and transmitted wirelessly as an e-mail attachment after being compressed. The images were retrieved, decompressed, and reviewed using commercially available software and a PDA with cellular phone capability.


RESULTS
A complete head CT was transmitted to a remote radiologist's wireless PDA for consultation. The entire procedure (including image capture, transmission, and review) took approximately 11.5 minutes.


CONCLUSIONS
Using the technique described in this article the wireless PDA may function as a robust medium for facilitating care of brain trauma patients by allowing rapid access to trauma radiologists or neurosurgeons.
Yaghmai
Vahid
V
Department of Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital-Northwestern University, 676 North Saint Clair Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. v-yaghmai@northwestern.edu
Salehi
Sean A
SA
Kuppuswami
Sivaraja
S
Berlin
Jonathan W
JW
D034201:Computers, Handheld; D034742:Electronic Mail; D006257:Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D046648:Hematoma, Subdural, Intracranial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D011873:Radiology Information Systems; D019114:Remote Consultation; D019112:Teleradiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed