The Evaluation of Teleradiology Images in the Pediatric Emergency Department: A Single-Center Experience

Abstract

Background: Teleradiology refers to radiological images being transmitted in an electronic environment from the hospital where the imaging was performed to another center for consultation or reports. It is also widely employed in Turkey. The purpose of this study was to perform a retrospective evaluation of the teleradiology images of patients presenting to the pediatric emergency department.Materials and Methods: Cases presenting to the pediatric emergency department of a Turkish tertiary education and research hospital between 01.01.2018 and 30.08.2018 and undergoing imaging reported using the teleradiology system were evaluated retrospectively. Age, sex, the imaging technique (computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging) and the test report result, day and time of presentation to the emergency department, and patient outcomes were recorded.Results: One hundred nine cases reported with the teleradiology system were included in this study. Forty-four (40.4%) patients were girls and 65 (59.6%) were boys, with a mean age of 105.53 ± 62.46 (4-212) months. Computed tomography was performed on 108 patients (99.1%), and both computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging on one (0.9%). Patients most frequently presented on Saturdays (22.9%) and at 16:00-00:00 hours (48.6%). The most common emergency department presentation symptoms were those involving the central nervous system (40.4%). Teleradiology system reports were most frequently normal (66.1%), followed by acute appendicitis (11.9%), and hydrocephaly (7.3%).Conclusions: This first study evaluating the use of teleradiology in the pediatric emergency department concluded that teleradiology is useful in the diagnosis and treatment of cases requiring radiological imaging at the weekends and outside normal working hours.