Telemedicine in Pediatric Oncology (Project C)

Author: Dr. med. Ralf Herold, Last modification: 2004/06/02

Project Telemedicine is concerned with the development and standardization of telemedical techniques for use within Competence Network. Optimization of diagnostic imaging, acceleration of image transfer speeds and the establishment of an image database are in the current focus. A final goal of the efforts is the establishment of a telecommunication network allowing centralized access and video conferencing with X-ray and CT images of solid tumors. Such images play the decisive role in finding the correct initial treatment procedures of solid tumors and lymphoma. After such an initial treatment the course of the disease can be judged based upon the tumors remaining volume and its correlation with histological and clinical findings. Today’s common procedure of sending patients images via mail or courier service is not only time taking and expensive but brings with it an unnecessary delay of the images discussion. To provide a simple and secure way of communication between the Networks partners, new telecommunication structures and strategies have to be implemented. These technologies will allow an automated combination of diagnostic and study data from image databases and - at the end - can be used for processing any form of digital data. Additionally the project is concerned with setting up guidelines for the effective use of imaging technologies for the diagnosis of tumors, quality control of imaging technologies and cost-effectiveness-analysis. As usual among telemedical projects of the different Competence Networks the Frauenhofer Institut Software- und Systemtechnik acts as advisor on behalf of the networks funding institution.