A study to understand the acceptance of DICOM Structured Reports on Breast Imaging

• Published in: Procedia computer science 2017, Vol.121, p.672-680
• Main Authors: Tribuna, Liliana, Silva, Augusto, Couto, Pedro Sá, Bastião, Luis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Breast cancer; DICOM Structured Reports; Free Text; Structured Reports
• ISSN: 1877-0509; 1877-0509
• DOI: 10.1016/j.procs.2017.11.088

Purpose: To create a Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine Structured Reports (DICOM-SR) Repository and compare the acceptance of Free Text (FT) versus Structured Reports (SR) in communication of Breast Imaging findings. Materials and Methods: It was conceptualized the MamoCatalogue to the structuring of the Reports and the SR were converted into DICOM-SR and integrated with Dicoogle. After that, seven representative Breast Imaging Reports were selected and evaluated by a group of 25 Physicians. Each Physician evaluated the seven Reports, in FT and SR with a 3 months timelag, about their, Structure, Clarity and assertiveness, Diagnostic/Recommendations, Easiness of reading, Full reading, Partially reading with Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) focus and Ambiguity. Results: A DICOM-SR Repository was created and the assessment of the acceptance of the FT vs. SR revealed that there is a global trend favoring FT. Nevertheless, a group wise analysis revealed that for Gynaecologists and General Practitioners (GP) the differences between FT and SR weren’t significant, unlike what happens with Radiologists. Conclusion: The DICOM-SR Repository allows the query/retrieve data for Reports and the communication with Gynaecologists and GP by SR was satisfactory. Although, Radiologists acceptance must be reinforced upon global communication and management strategy.