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A pragmatic discussion on establishing a multicenter digital imaging network
Mary Lou Ingeholm1, Betty A Levine, Seyed Ali Fatemi
1ISIS Center, Georgetown University, Washington DC 20007, USA. Ingeholm@georgetown.edu
Journal of Digital Imaging
|July 10, 2002
Summary
Multicenter clinical trials for rare diseases like adrenoleukodystrophy benefit from digital imaging networks. Flexible network protocols are crucial for successful data sharing across diverse institutions.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Neurology
- Rare Diseases
Background:
- Multicenter clinical trials are essential for evaluating rare disease therapies.
- Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) requires collaborative research efforts.
- Digital imaging networks facilitate information sharing among institutions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility and challenges of implementing a digital imaging network for multicenter adrenoleukodystrophy trials.
- To evaluate the use of DICOM 3.0 standards and virtual private network technology for secure data transmission.
Main Methods:
- A digital imaging network was established connecting fifteen participating sites.
- Data transmission utilized DICOM 3.0 standards and virtual private network (VPN) technology for security.
- Network infrastructure, internet access, image management, and security policies were assessed across sites.
Main Results:
- Six out of fifteen sites successfully implemented the proposed network protocol.
- Nine sites required alternative protocols due to security policies or technical limitations.
- Significant variations in network infrastructure, internet access, and security policies were observed among participating sites.
Conclusions:
- Implementing multicenter digital imaging networks for rare diseases presents challenges due to site-specific variations.
- Flexibility in network connectivity protocols is vital for increasing participation in multicenter trials.
- Balancing flexibility with network complexity is key for successful implementation.