Nectec network to help connect medical experts

Chulabhorn Cancer Centre in tie up to create a resource-sharing tool

Aiming to improve the medical- treatment system in Thailand, the National Cyclotron and PET Centre, part of the Chulabhorn Cancer Centre, are working to build a telemedicine network that will pool resources, transfer knowledge and enable medical consultation among experts within and outside the country.

The project is part of a five-year memorandum of understanding between the Chulabhorn Cancer Centre and the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec).

Under the plan, Nectec will help Chulabhorn Cancer Centre set up a telemedicine network to link the centre with universities across the country as well as international academic institutions using the University Network and the ThaiSarn Network, Nectec director Pansak Siri-ruchatapong said. The network, he said, would be a key tool for sharing medical knowledge between experts in different locations.

National Cyclotron and PET Centre executive manager Rujaporn Chanachai said the centre will initially use the network to transfer imaging data captured from positron emission tomography-computed tomography, known as PET-CT.

"Today, when it comes to reading imaging results from PET-CT, the centre has to rely on experts from other local hospitals and academic institutions to help interpret the data. Through this network, we can connect and get consultation conveniently from other sources too," he said.

At present, experts have to come to the centre to read the imaging results but, in the near future, they can just sit in front of a computer system, get the imaging files and make a diagnosis.

The centre analyses about five PET-CT images each day and Rujaporn expects the number to increase to 10 to 20 soon.

PET-CT image transmission is just the first application of the network. Next, the centre plans to utilise the tool to develop expertise and resource sharing with hospitals in remote areas which have a limited number of medical experts.

Additionally, Nectec will also help Chulabhorn Cancer Centre with research and development of tecnologies for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Nectec director Pansak said the centre was studying how to use image-processing technology to develop a new medical software.

He said the new medical image- processing software would help doctors with primary diagnosis. Instead of the doctors analysing each part of a patient's X-ray film themselves, the software will help shorten the process by automatically identifying possible abnormalities on the film.

The idea, Pansak said, is to use imaging combined with an expert system to detect, for example, cancer cells appearing on the film. As soon as doctors look at the film, they can proceed to an in-depth diagnosis.

      At a glance

n The centre will use the network to transfer imaging data captured from PET-CT.

n The centre plans to utilise the tool to develop expertise and resource sharing with hospitals in remote areas.