Electronic Image Archiving In The Catheterization Laboratory: Multicenter Comparison Of Enhanced Optical Storage With 1024(2) Digital And 35mm Cine-Film

We developed a bi-directional 1249/625 lines converter, able to store and to replay high resolution (1249 lines) video images, from Component Record Video (CRV) Optical Laser (Analogue) Videodisks. Image quality was evaluated four ways: I) we evaluated Quantitative Coronary Angiography (QCA) on standard coronary test phantoms using enhanced CRY storage images digitally processed, and also compared 78 arterial measurements ranging 0.65 to 4.85 mm both from the digital hard disc (D) and the CRV optical disc (CRV), using the same QCA analytical package. No systematic over or underestimation occurred,, the mean variability was inferior to 0.1 mm and results were similar to the results obtained in the literature fro,ll digitally stored images. 2) Outside experts compared 593 static images stored or? CRV discs to the same images stored in 1024(2) digital format blinded to source of image. The Sera experts found both visual or medical difference in 98% of evaluated images and minor differences in the remainder. 3) 90 representatives front 63 institutions compared images from both a digital hard drive and the enhanced CRV optical (analogue) storage. During the test they were blinded as to the source of the images. The representatives found no difference in image resolution, quality, diagnostic accuracy, and medical relevance. 4) Two of the experts also compared the enhanced CRV optically stored image to the image obtained on simultaneously recorded 35mm cine film, and found the enhanced CRV stored image to be superior or similar, but never inferior to the film image.Conclusion: High-Resolution CRV storage represents a cost effective solution for excellent image duality equivalent to digitally scored images, permitting permanent electronic archiving inside the cath-lab, and allowing digital image processing and digital DICOM network and CD-ROM based image communication.