Logistical, technical and clinical aspects of remote PET/CT interpretation

Objectives 1. To present all the elements indispensable to make the remote PET/CT interpretation fully operational, 2. To present the end-results of this enterprise, and 3. To highlight the positives points, hurdles and limitations of such a system so improvement could be made for future similar efforts.

Methods F-18 FDG PET/CT is crucial for the oncologic staging, re-staging and post-therapeutic monitoring. The remote interpretation of this functional imaging modality aims to provide a timely expert-quality diagnosis of a tertiary medical center to a remote institution with its own cancer patients being able to avoid time-consuming travelling hassle and still benefit from familiar local care environment. This exhibit presents the Mayo Clinic Arizona 20-month experience of remote PET/CT interpretation of more than 800 exams for a medical center located about 170 miles away. All the logistical, technical and interpretative aspects of this service are reviewed with critical analysis of the end-results, advantages and hurdles for the protagonists of such an enterprise.

Results Comparing to prior delayed results from local services, the majority of the PET/CT exams were read by Mayo Clinic experts and their reports faxed to the receiving center on the same day of the imaging. All selected pertinent PET/CT findings were captured on images and sent back to the receiving center PACS system on the same day. All urgent findings with potential impact on the patient’s care were timely communicated and discussed with the referring clinicians.

Conclusions The remote medical center, its referring clinicians and patients benefit from this at-distance enterprise due to rapid expert interpretation and timely communication of the results