Remote sonographic interpretation: comparison of standardized video clips to still images.

Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of standardized video clips compared with still images in the diagnostic accuracy of remote sonographic interpretation.
Methods: We compared the remote interpretation of sonographic examinations acquired with a standardized video clip approach to examinations performed with still images alone in 60 patients with various hepatic and extrahepatic pathologies.
Results: The use of video clips improved the diagnostic accuracy of sonographic studies interpreted remotely compared with the use of still images (p < 0.0001). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values increased from 47.3% to 68.3%, 81.8% to 87.8%, 71.5% to 81%, and 63.8% to 74.5%, respectively.
Conclusions: Standardized video clips are easy to obtain, less operator-dependent than still images, and can be transferred to remote sites without loss of important data. We recommend this method in remote interpretation (teleradiology and distant consultation) of sonographic examinations.
(Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)