Digital storage of echocardiograms offers superior image quality to analog storage, even with 20:1 digital compression: results of the Digital Echo Record Access Study.

T. H. Karson*, R. C. Zepp, S. Chandra, A. Morehead, J. D. Thomas

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

62 Scopus citations

Abstract

A large interobserver and intraobserver variability study was performed comparing both digitally compressed and uncompressed echocardiographic images with the same images recorded onto super-VHS video-cassette tape (the current standard). In a blinded, randomized fashion, 179 observers scored the diagnostic and image quality of 20 pairs of echocardiographic loops representing various pathologic conditions. Overall, the digital images were preferred to the S-VHS images both for image quality and diagnostic content (p < 0.0001) regardless of the background or experience level of the observer. Furthermore, uncompressed digital images and those compressed by the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) algorithm at ratios of 20:1 were judged equivalent. These findings show that digital compression may be used routinely in echocardiography, resulting in improved image and diagnostic quality over present standards.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)769-778
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography
Volume9
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1996

Funding

Tom H. Karson, MD, Richard C. Zepp, MS, Shalabh Chandra, MSE, Annitta Morehead, RDMS, and James D. Thomas, MD, Cleveland, Ohio A large interobserver and intraobserver variability study was performed comparing both digitally compressed and uncompressed echocardiographic images with the same images recorded onto super-VHS videocassette tape (the current standard). In a blinded, randomized fashion, 179 observers scored the diagnostic and image quality of 20 pairs of echocardiographic loops representing various pathologic conditions. Overall, the digital images were preferred to the S-VHS images both for image quality and diagnostic content (p < 0.0001) regardless of the background or experience level of the observer. Furthermore, uncompressed digital images and those compressed by the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) algorithm at ratios of 20: 1 were judged equivalent. These findings show that digital compression may be used routinely in echocardiography, resulting in improved image and diagnostic quality over present standards. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1996;9:769-78.) Routine digital acquisition and storage of echocardiograms would greatly benefit the clinical practice of cardiology, allowing random and immediate access to current and prior echocardiographic studies and facilitating transmission of echo data to remote sites.i Although this is becoming technologically more feasible, the tremendous amounts of computer storage required by digital images continue to be a major obstacle. A single 640 x 480 pixel full color frame requires nearly a megabyte (MB) of storage (the equivalent of 461 typewritten pages), whereas real-time echocardiographic transmission requires a data From the Cardiovascular Imaging Center, Department of Cardiology, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. This study was funded by contributions from Acuson Corporation, Mountain View, Calif.; Cortet, Inc., Winter Park, Fla., (pre-viouslyk nown as ArchivalT echnologies,I nc.); Nova Microsonics, Allendale, N. 14 and TomTec Imaging, Boulder, Colo. SC was supported in part by Grant-in-Aid #934013380 of the American Heart Association, Greenville, TX (J.D.T.). This work was endorsed by the Digital Formatting Committee of the American SocieW of Echocardiography.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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