Structured reporting using a shared indexed multilingual radiology lexicon.
OBJECTIVE
A system for creating structured reports (SRs) using a standardized radiology lexicon was developed and tested to facilitate automated translation of content and multidisciplinary international communications.


METHODS
A database of radiology terms, RadLex developed by the Radiological Society of North America, was used to create a shared indexed multilingual radiology lexicon. A diagnostic workstation for generating structured reports (OpenEye) was implemented with a "RadLex manager" function for adding new words to the lexicon in both English and Italian. Sample reports of examinations included in the Medical Imaging Resource Center (MIRC) radiology imaging database of clinical cases were prepared using this system. The system was evaluated for teaching purposes and scientific dissemination.


RESULTS
The OpenEye system was able to manage the glossary to create new SRs and manually translate existing reports containing freely worded descriptions. The OpenEye system provides instant translation from Italian into English and enables clinical cases to be published in the MIRC, while making them accessible for consultation on an international scale.


CONCLUSIONS
The SR is advantageous compared with a freely worded report in terms of clarity and completeness of the content. Creating SRs for each clinical case enables rapid and focused analysis at multidisciplinary meetings. All our cases have been included in the MIRC database as part of a broader-based European Project for research on soft tissues sarcomas (CONTICANET).
University of Padova, Padova, PD, Italy. roberto.stramare@unipd.it
Roberto
R
Stramare
Giuliano
G
Scattolin
Valeria
V
Beltrame
Marco
M
Gerardi
Marco
M
Sommavilla
Cristina
C
Gatto
Paolo
P
Mosca
Leopoldo
L
Rubaltelli
Carlo Riccardo
CR
Rossi
Claudio
C
Saccavini
D000043:Abstracting and Indexing; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007802:Language; D009862:Online Systems; D011873:Radiology Information Systems; D012984:Software; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014175:Translating; D017432:Unified Medical Language System; D014481:United States; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D018875:Vocabulary, Controlled