Three novel lossless image compression schemes for medical image archiving and telemedicine

Adaptive compression algorithm from projections: application on medical greyscale images

Image compression plays a crucial role in medical imaging, allowing efficient manipulation, storage, and transmission of binary, grey-scale, or colour images. Nevertheless, in medical applications the need to conserve the diagnostic validity of the image requires the use of lossless compression methods, producing low compression factors. In this paper, a novel near-lossless compression algorithm from projections, which almost eliminates both redundant information and noise from a greyscale image while retaining all relevant structures and producing high compression factors, is proposed. The algorithm is tested on experimental medical greyscale images from different modalities and different body districts and results are reported.

Virtual slide telepathology workstation of the future: lessons learned from teleradiology

The clinical reading environment for the 21st century pathologist looks very different than it did even a few short years ago. Glass slides are quickly being replaced by digital "virtual slides," and the traditional light microscope is being replaced by the computer display. There are numerous questions that arise however when deciding exactly what this new digital display viewing environment will be like. Choosing a workstation for daily use in the interpretation of digital pathology images can be a very daunting task. Radiology went digital nearly 20 years ago and faced many of the same challenges so there are lessons to be learned from these experiences. One major lesson is that there is no "one size fits all" workstation so users must consider a variety of factors when choosing a workstation. In this article, we summarize some of the potentially critical elements in a pathology workstation and the characteristics one should be aware of and look for in the selection of one. Issues pertaining to both hardware and software aspects of medical workstations will be reviewed particularly as they may impact the interpretation process.