Geographically Distributed Complementary Content-Based Image Retrieval Systems for Biomedical Image Informatics.

Antani SK, Deserno TM, Long LR, Thoma GR

Stud Health Technol Inform. 2007;129(Pt 1):493-7

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Abstract:

There is a significant increase in the use of medical images in clinical medicine, disease research, and education. While the literature lists several successful systems for content-based image retrieval and image management methods, they have been unable to make significant inroads in routine medical informatics. This can be attributed to the following: (i) the challenging nature of medical images, (ii) need for specialized methods specific to each image type and detail, (iii) lack of advances in image indexing methods, and (iv) lack of a uniform data and resource exchange framework between complementary systems. Most systems tend to focus on varying degrees of the first two items, making them very versatile in a small sampling of the variety of medical images but unable to share their strengths. This paper proposes to overcome these shortcomings by defining a data and resource exchange framework using open standards and software to develop geographically distributed toolkits. As proof-of-concept, we describe the coupling of two complementary geographically separated systems: the IRMA system at Aachen University of Technology in Germany, and the SPIRS system at the U. S. National Library of Medicine in the United States of America.

Antani SK, Deserno TM, Long LR, Thoma GR. Geographically Distributed Complementary Content-Based Image Retrieval Systems for Biomedical Image Informatics. 
Stud Health Technol Inform. 2007;129(Pt 1):493-7

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