WO2004098400A1

WO2004098400A1 - Device for the production of medical reports based on image data

Info

Publication number: WO2004098400A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/004685
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefan Assmann; Friedrich Fuchs
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2003-05-07
Filing date: 2004-05-03
Publication date: 2004-11-18

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the production of medical reports based on image data during an image generating patient examination, such as MR, CT, radiography, ultrasound or angiography. Said device comprises an evaluation device for measuring and classifying specific areas in the reports by hand and for comparison with a data base wherein the normal values of the body organs and regions are stored.

Description

Device for creating medical reports based on image data

The invention relates to a device for generating medical reports based on image data in the course of imaging patient examinations such as MR, CT, X-ray, ultrasound or angiography.

The creation of reports (reports) is an essential part of all imaging modalities. This usually medical service is time-consuming and, with the rapid imaging methods available today, in particular MR and CT, takes more time than the actual examination. However, time is a limiting factor of medical work, because on the one hand only limited numbers of specialists are available (lack of doctors), and on the other hand their working hours are limited (Working Hours Act etc.).

These difficulties result in a delayed diagnosis, which, among other things, results in an extension of the inpatient stay, which in turn results in considerable financial damage either for the health insurers or for the hospital if, according to the newer modalities, the payment is no longer based on the length of stay, but accordingly of the diagnosis made. In addition, there is always the risk of misdiagnosis, as findings are overlooked or misinterpreted under time pressure.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a device for producing reports of findings which supports the doctor in evaluating image data.

To achieve this object, such a device is characterized according to the invention by an evaluation device for measuring and classifying certain areas in the Findings on hand and in comparison with a database in which the normal values of the body organs and regions are stored, especially on the basis of the international classifications of the respective organs and body regions.

Specifically, the evaluation device should be able to record the size, thickness, in particular also wall thickness, the occurrence of constrictions and lesions, and the pumping function in the areas under consideration, with the examination of the areas under consideration being carried out in defined segments specified by the database. For example, the AHA (American Heart Association) defines 17 cardiac segments, so that the evaluation device of a device according to the invention is to measure cardiac images separately in these 17 cardiac segments, so that corresponding values are available for each segment, which then correspond to the standard values of the Database can be compared.

The device according to the invention should preferably be connected directly to the imaging system and the evaluation device should be designed so that it can process existing special evaluation software packages as are already offered by different organizations and companies.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description of an exemplary embodiment using the example of cardiac MR diagnostics.

For cardiac MR diagnosis, the device according to the invention can use, for example, the cardiac evaluation software from Siemens, with the aid of which the determination of parameters such as ventricular volumes, ejection fraction, left ventricular muscle mass (LVM), global pump function, regional wall thickness and wall thickening can be determined. The wall sections of the heart, for example the front wall and the side wall, are defined internationally and are valid for all imaging modalities, the normal values for the above-mentioned parameters such as LV mass also being classified internationally binding.

Using the device according to the invention with an evaluation device, in which the cardiac evaluation software is fed in, and with a database that contains the addressed standard values of the various heart segments, the software can now automatically from the parameters determined by means of Argus (EDV, ESV, EF, LVM) Create diagnoses.

Example 1: LV hypertrophy

Determined LV mass 150 g / m ² body surface norm value: 80-100 g / m ² body surface

Increased LV mass is called LV hypertrophy. “Intelligent Reporting ¹ * therefore diagnoses LV hypertrophy in the case described. There is the possibility of differentiated diagnoses by defining groups:

Low LVH 100 - 125 g / m ² body surface Moderate LVH 126 - 150 g / m ² body surface Severe LVH> 150 g / m ² body surface

Example 2: Analysis of regional wall movement disorders

The AHA and ACC define 17 cardiac segments. Argus determines the increase in wall thickness in these defined segments. Different groups of (percentage) wall thickness increases are defined and classified for "Intelligent Reporting": Wall thickness increase classification

0% akinesia

1-10 severe hypokinesia

11-20 low hypokinesia

> 20 regular wall movements

If a wall thickness increase of 12% is found in a defined segment (e.g. segment 17; apical segment), then this is a small apical hypokinesia.

Such a classification is also carried out for all of the above. Parameters such as EDV, ESV, EF suggested.

"Intelligent Reporting * takes place immediately after the data has been collected.

If the postprocessing (e.g. Argus) is now finished, a finding suggestion is immediately available. The assessor can now accept or change it if he wants to. This significantly speeds up the process of making reports.

To avoid misdiagnosis, it is suggested that "Intelligent Reporting * always work in the background. If the finder does not want to use it, it is still active and checks the findings for keywords such as “LV hypertrophy *. If the finding has been made, but does not contain the term “LV hypertrophy * for an LV mass of 150 g / m ² , the system makes the findings to this discrepancy between the values obtained (like the LVM of 150 g / m ² ) and the created findings carefully. The accuracy of the findings increases. In the age of DRGs, overlooked diagnoses also result in financial loss for the clinic operator, since complicated cases, ie those with many diagnoses, are better compensated for than simple ones. The cost situation is also improving.

Claims

claims

1. Device for creating reports on the basis of image data in the course of imaging patient examinations such as MR, CT, X-ray, ultrasound or angiography, characterized by an evaluation device for measuring and classifying specific areas in the result images on the basis of and comparing a database in which stores the normal values of the body's organs and regions.

2. Device according to claim 1, so that the evaluation device detects the size, thickness, in particular also wall thickness, the occurrence of constrictions and lesions as well as the pumping function in the areas under consideration.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, so that the evaluation device measures the areas under consideration in defined segments specified by the database.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that it is directly connected to the imaging system.

5. The device as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, that the database is constructed on the basis of the internationally binding classifications of the respective organs and body regions.

6. The device as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, so that the evaluation device can process existing special evaluation software packages.