Transferring images via the wireless messaging network using camera phones shortens the time required to diagnose acute coronary syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Clear images can be sent via e-mail using camera phones. We examined whether camera phones are useful to transmit electrocardiogram (ECG) images.


RESULTS
ECG images were taken of 20 patients suspected to have acute coronary syndrome. Ten images were sent to a cardiologist by fax. The other 10 images were transmitted using a camera phone. The total time elapsed between image transmission to diagnosis by cardiologists was shorter in the camera phone group than in the fax group.


CONCLUSIONS
ECG image transmission by camera phone can be efficiently used in the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome.
Ohtsuka
Masashi
M
Department of Cardiology, Seirei Yokohama General Hospital, Yokohama, Japan. masaootsuka-circ@umin.ac.jp
Uchida
Eiji
E
Nakajima
Toru
T
Yamaguchi
Hiroyuki
H
Takano
Hiroyuki
H
Komuro
Issei
I
D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D040421:Cell Phone; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors; D014741:Video Recording