MeDiMeD - retrieval of medical educational information in prenatal diagnostics Nina Hrtonova 1 , Eva Racanska 2 , Ales Rocek 1 1 Masaryk University, Institute of Computer Science, Botanicka 68, 602 00 Brno nina@ics.muni.cz , rocek@ics.muni.cz 2 University Hospital Brno, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jihlavska 20, 625 00Brno evaracanska@hotmail.com Abstract Project MeDiMed was established in cooperation between Institute of Information Science of Masaryk University and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Brno University Hospital. The Aim of this project is an anonymous tutorial database. Studies included in the database cover abnormal findings in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. We need to find the right way to provide access to this anonymous database of interesting findings to the professional community and medical students. This paper informs about the process of superstructure development for various ways of access to the medical findings, images, complementary information. 1. Introduction Institute of Information Science of Masaryk University is building, as a part of the MeDiMed project, a structured tutorial database of anonymous images. Image data are produced by various modalities such as ultrasound, MRI, CT or X-ray during common diagnostic examinations techniques. Data are archived in the standard DICOM format through PACS archive (more info, see Cooperating teams). Selected data are designated for the tutorial database. Studies are modified according to the requirements for education. Corrections involve study description, anonymization, keywords assignment which address the main diagnose and other diagnosis as well. Database gradually covers particular areas of medicine and allows identification with well documented image studies, which include common and rare diagnosis and used diagnostic and treatment procedures. Data stay in the DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine) format. DICOM format is an international standard, file of rules for the communication in the field of medical data, mainly medical image data [1]. Except of high quality imaging, it allows the possibility of complete software processing, zoom, brightness, measurement or fusion of images. For the purpose of accurate diagnostics in medicine it is of much higher quality than common JPEG format which is being used by the majority of other image databases. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of University Hospital Brno is a referral center for fetal or maternal abnormalities which are diagnosed prenatally. It concentrates rare cases which are difficult to see in the common medical practice. Department provides lectures and practical education for medical students of Masaryk University. Training increased in the recent years and it does not include only medical students but also many students of bachelor programs. All students can not sometimes participate in the life ultrasound scan. Usually they do not have many chances to see some fetal abnormality or some rare, interesting findings. Lectures are partly being moved from the outpatient office to the classrooms equipped with computers. We try to support theory with images and video recordings from the life scans which help to illustrate the actual topic. This way we can introduce the ultrasound screening to all students without loosing quality of training. Education becomes more interesting end effective if completed by large amount of images. 2. Aims of the project There several aims in this project: • high quality training the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Brno and introduction of e-learning into routine teaching practice, • documentation of interesting and illustrative findings acquired during ultrasound prenatal screening, • retrieval of findings and other material related to the particular topic, • retrieval of teaching studies in DICOM format to medical community, • creation of user friendly background for work and publishing which can be easily used and extended by users, • increasing of IT skills of doctors, • increasing of e-learning skills of doctors in the area of electronic education support, • presentation of both cooperating sites.