Digital image management project for dermatological health care environments: a new dedicated software and review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
Because the skin is the only organ completely accessible to visual examination, digital technology has therefore attracted the attention of dermatologists for documenting, monitoring, measuring and classifying morphological manifestations. To describe a digital image management system dedicated to dermatological health care environments and to compare it with other existing softwares for digital image storage.


METHODS
We designed a reliable hardware structure that could ensure future scaling, because storage needs tend to grow exponentially. For the software, we chose a client-web server application based on a relational database and with a 'minimalist' user interface.


RESULTS
We developed a software with a ready-made, adaptable index of skin pathologies. It facilitates classification by pathology, patient and visit, with an advanced search option allowing access to all images according to personalized criteria. The software also offers the possibility of comparing two or more digital images (follow-up). The fact that the archives of years of digital photos acquired and saved on PCs can easily be entered in the program distinguishes it from the others in the market. This option is fundamental for accessing all the photos taken in years of practice in the program without entering them one by one. The program is available to any user connected to the local Intranet and the system may directly be available in the future from the Internet.


CONCLUSIONS
All clinics and surgeries, especially those that rely on digital images, are obliged to keep up with technological advances. It is therefore hoped that our project will become a model for medical structures intending to rationalise digital and other data according to statutory requirements.
Rubegni
Pietro
P
Department of Dermatology, University of Siena, Tuscany, Italy. rubegni@unisi.it
Nami
Niccolò
N
Poggiali
Sara
S
Tataranno
Domenico
D
Fimiani
M
M
D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D011873:Radiology Information Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014584:User-Computer Interface