JP2001126007A - Report generation support system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a report generation support system which can generate a high quality report where expressions are unified just enough with less work burden. SOLUTION: In a report generation support system supporting the generation of a report on the inspection result of medical inspection, information required for the generation of the report can be inputted by selectively using plural types of input systems.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a report preparation support system for supporting a report on a requested examination in the medical field, particularly a report on a result of image interpretation by radiation, an endoscope, and ultrasound.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the spread of information systems in medical institutions has progressed, and hospital information systems (HIS), radiation department management systems (RIS), and medical image management systems (PA) have been developed.
CS) etc. have been introduced to make various tasks more efficient. In order to support the interpretation work of the inspection department,
Along with the medical image management system, a report creation support system is becoming popular.

[0003] As an image inspection, a doctor or a radiologist interprets an image generated by a medical image inspection apparatus such as an X-ray CT (X-ray computed tomography apparatus) or an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging apparatus). In general, the procedure is such that the interpretation results or findings at the time of examination are compiled as an examination report (inspection report), and the result is returned to the department requesting interpretation. In performing image interpretation, in addition to the current examination image, an image of a past examination type, a past report, and past measurement information are referred to, and efforts are made to discover lesions and grasp changes.

[0004] A report creation support system is introduced with a primary purpose of improving the efficiency of image interpretation and report creation. FIG. 22 shows the configuration of a conventional system.
The inspection information selected from the large amount of inspection information sent from the inspection information input unit 21 to the image information management unit 22 is displayed on the inspection information display unit 24, and the image to be interpreted is displayed on the image display unit 23. The report information input section 25 is prepared by a report creator mainly including
The report information is input from. The report information is mainly input as a character string, and together with the signature information of the radiological interpreter input from the signature information input unit 32, the report information management unit 28
The report is displayed on the report display unit 30 and, if necessary, is printed by the report printing unit 31 and output on paper.

At the time of creating report information, current and past images and the previous inspection report are displayed on the image display unit 23 and the report display unit 30 to support the creation of a report. Regarding the business related to image interpretation and the linked display of images and reports, refer to Japanese Patent Application No. 9-149
No. 316. Here, the image display unit 23
When an image is displayed by the user, information such as a patient identifier, a patient name, and an examination state is input from the search condition input unit 33 as a search condition (keyword), and is searched by the search unit 34 based on the search condition. It is disclosed that a list of applicable examinations is displayed on a search result information display section 35, and target past report information selected and designated from the list is displayed on a report display section 30.

However, such a conventional report creation support system has the following problems. (Problem 1) In a conventional report creation support system, a creator mainly inputs report information as a document, and the input result is displayed as it is and printed. To simplify this character input, (1) Register frequently used words and short sentences, select necessary words and simple sentences from them, create a character string, edit it, and edit this result. (2) A list of words and documents that are highly likely to be input is determined in a format, the target words and documents are checked, and a list-type screen (the screen itself at the time of input) is printed as it is. Is taking the method.

In the above-described method, the input method is restricted by the format to be printed, so that it cannot be said that the most suitable input means is provided for the creator. In the input method (1), any sentence or expression can be used in principle, but the creator is troublesome to edit and the final report information tends to have individual differences. In other words, from the viewpoint of the report information reader, the report information is easier to read if it is described according to a certain rule (uniform). According to the input method (2), uniform report information can be created, but there is a problem that delicate expression cannot be made and that unnecessary information is included in a lot.

(Problem 2) Mainly in ultrasonic examination and endoscopic examination, a plurality of parts are often inspected by one examination. When the input method (1) is used for each part, the work load on the report creator becomes large. In addition, when the input method of (2) is used, there is a problem that many pieces of information reported as a report are unnecessary (in the case of paper, the number of sheets increases), and it is difficult for a person who refers to the report information to refer to.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a report creation support system capable of creating a high-quality report with no excess or deficiency and with uniform expressions and the like with a small work load.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a report preparation support system for supporting the preparation of a report on the examination result of a medical examination. It is characterized in that it can be used to input.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. First, a series of flows from medical examination to report creation will be briefly described. In medical imaging, when an examination request (order) for an imaging examination is issued by a doctor in a medical department, an examination department such as a radiology department performs an examination according to the order, and thereby a nuclear medicine diagnostic apparatus ( Gamma camera), X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MR)
A medical image according to the order is captured using an image capturing device such as I). Then, the doctor, technician, or doctor in charge of image interpretation that has performed the examination creates a report for reporting the examination result to the request department, and returns this to the request department along with the inspection image. This report is often created by referring to past images and past reports of the patient stored in the examination department. In addition, in the examination department, for the purpose of managing case studies and examinations, there are cases in which stored past reports are searched to extract purpose information.

[0012] In such a series of flows, the report creation support system has been introduced mainly for the purpose of efficiently proceeding with the report creation work in the inspection department. It is connected to other hospital systems, such as the hospital information system (HIS) and order system, via a LAN. It is not a single-function system that supports report creation, but a report transfer from an examination request, as well as images and reports. It can be positioned as a system with multiple functions including storage management of a system, or as a subsystem responsible for one function of such a system.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a report creation support system according to this embodiment. The inspection information input unit 1 inputs order information (inspection request information) and various kinds of information related to the inspection such as an inspection identifier and an inspection execution result as inspection information from another system such as a request department. The information input via the inspection information input unit 1 is sent to the image information management unit 2, where it is managed together with the image generated during the inspection. Note that the order information may be input from another system such as HIS. If the order is instructed to perform a plurality of inspections, an identifier for the order, such as an order number, is input, and an inspection identifier corresponding to the order is issued if necessary. An identifier is managed in association with the identifier.

Further, the image information management section 2 sometimes manages the image generated by the medical image inspection result and the order information in association with the execution result information. Note that the association between the image information and the inspection information is performed by associating the identifier assigned to the image with the inspection identifier. Alternatively, the examination can be made a directory and the image files can be arranged in the directory by using the file system of the image management apparatus to associate them with each other.
In this case, the directory name and the examination identifier may be managed in association with each other.

As shown in FIG. 2, the association can be managed by using a database management system. The order management table stores an order identifier and order information. The inspection management table stores an order identifier, an inspection identifier, and inspection information. In the image management table, arrangement information on the file system such as an examination identifier, an image identifier, and an image file name is stored. If it is desired to manage a part of the images in the examination as a series, the management can be performed by providing a series management table using a series identifier similarly.

When an image is operated on a film or the like, the inspection information is stored in a film bag or an image instead of the image information management unit 2.
By providing D, the image, the order information, and the inspection execution result can be associated with each other. When the inspection information and order information are operated on paper, the input by the inspection information input unit 1 may be performed by a report input device described later. Again,
By writing the order identifier and inspection identifier on paper,
The association with the image can be managed.

The inspection information display unit 4 receives only the inspection information of the image interpretation target for which the inspection has been completed and the image exists, from the image information management unit 2 as the report input target inspection.
That is, the image information management unit 2 manages the matching between the identifier of the input examination information and the examination identifier sent from the medical image capturing apparatus, and when both the examination information and the image are available, The test is sent to the test information display unit 4 as a report input target test. The examination information display unit 4 displays a list of examinations to which the report sent from the image information management unit 2 is to be input. By designating the examination to be interpreted from the list in the report information input unit 5, the report creation operation starts.

When an image interpretation target examination is specified in the report information input unit 5, a past image of the patient is displayed on the image display unit 3 together with a current image of the image interpretation target in order to support the image interpretation. Similarly, a past report created by a past examination of the patient is displayed on the report display unit 10. Further, an initial screen for inputting report information corresponding to the interpretation target examination specified by the report information input unit 5 is displayed on the examination information display unit 4.

FIG. 3 shows an example of an initial screen for inputting the report information. This report input screen is a report information input area A for inputting report information.
And a schematic information input area B for inputting necessary graphics and characters on a simplified graphic of the target organ and its standard classification (schema), and an area C for inputting various information. ing. Note that order information, inspection information, and images may be displayed on this screen. In this case, an inquiry is made to the image information management unit 2 using the order identifier that has already been sent from the image information management unit 2 to the examination information display unit 4 to obtain information or an image to be displayed. Further, the report input screen does not need to be divided into a report information input area A, a schema information input area B, and various information input areas C. They may be arranged so that they can be switched by a simple operation.

Here, the report information input unit 5 includes, as an input format of the report information, a character string input format for selecting a required word short sentence from a pre-registered word short sentence list, and a plurality of similar types displayed in a list. The report creator is equipped with three types: a table input format for inputting necessary information for each item individually, and a check input format for selecting a relevant limb from a plurality of options corresponding to each item. By clicking the operation buttons 101 and 102 for the input format, the user can freely use the information freely to input the report information efficiently. These three types of input formats will be described below in order.

First, in the character string input format, a character string input from a keyboard can be directly input as report information, or a list of frequently used words and short sentences is registered in advance, and an appropriate By selecting and specifying a word or a short sentence, it is possible to finally express the interpretation result as a sentence (character string).

FIG. 4 shows a display example of a list of registered words and short sentences. The creator scans a pointing device such as a mouse pointer from this list,
By clicking the desired words 103 and 104 and the short sentences 105 and 106 one after another in random order, the interpretation result can be input as a sentence. The list of words and short sentences is held in the report information management unit 8 or a master information management unit (not shown), and the creator can update the registration and deletion at any time.

Each word and short sentence are managed in association with the examination type and site. As shown in FIG. 5, a table for holding words and short sentences is provided, and an examination type identifier and a site identifier are stored in association with each word and short sentence. When the examination information of the examination to be entered in the report is accompanied by an examination type identifier or an examination part identifier, only the words and short character strings associated with the examination type and the part are displayed.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show input screens in a table input format in which necessary information can be input in a simple and unified format by inputting necessary information individually for a plurality of items of the same type displayed in a list. Here is an example. The example of FIG. 6 is an input screen corresponding to the ultrasonic image inspection, and includes an image capturing method (PW (pulse wave),
CW (continuous wave), 2D (two-dimensional color Doppler)), disease name (MR, AR, TR, PR), progress of each disease name (negative, trace, mild, moderate) ),
Numerical values such as "severe" and "index" (here, pressure difference) can be specified. As an image capturing method, PW (pulse wave), CW (continuous wave), 2D
(Two-dimensional color Doppler) is prepared in advance, and the type of the image to be evaluated can be selectively designated by clicking buttons 107, 108, and 109 with the pointing device. Five types (negative, trace, mild (m
ild), moderate (moderate), and severe (severe) are prepared in advance, and any of the buttons 110 to 114 can be selectively clicked with a pointing device. Numerical values 115 and 116 are used to input a target part and numerical values from a keyboard.

The information input in this table input format is converted into character string data in a predetermined format in the character conversion unit 7, as shown in FIG. A unique identification character string is defined for each piece of input information, and the beginning and end of the input information are surrounded by the defined identifier. FIG.
Is an information description language, XML (Extensible Markup Langua
ge). In the example of FIG. 7, the section (Seg) in which the tumor position is standardized as a schema
ment) can be input by selectively specifying one or the required number by selectively clicking the buttons 117 to 124, and by inputting the size of the disease numerically into the numerical value input portion 125, How the image looks (echo pattern)
Can be input to the input portion 126 by a selection operation from options prepared in advance. FIG. 9 shows an example in which the input of FIG. 7 is converted into a character string according to XML.

FIGS. 10 (a), 10 (b), 10
(C) and FIG. 10 (d) show examples of input screens in various other table input formats. In each of the examples, necessary information is individually entered for a plurality of items of the same type displayed in a list. The user can select from pre-registered options and input by numerical input.

FIG. 11 shows an example of an input screen in a check input format in which necessary information can be input easily and in a uniform format by selecting a corresponding limb from a plurality of options corresponding to each item. By appropriately checking the check boxes 127 to 135 with the pointing device for the predefined items, it is possible to input whether or not each item corresponds to each item. As shown in FIG. 12, the input result is input to the character conversion unit 7 as shown in FIG.
It is converted into character string data in a predetermined format.

When character string data input through the three types of input formats as described above is displayed in each format, information is extracted from a unique identification character string of each information, and the information is extracted in a display portion. What is necessary is just to display character string information. If the display format is a button or a format that indicates True / False, check the character string match between the part to be displayed and the stored character string, and if there is a match, specify the corresponding information item in the prescribed display format To display.

As an application example of the input format, as shown in FIG. 13, information input on the schema is automatically linked to input items in a table input format or a check input format. In other words, the disease range specified on the schema and the input character information become part of the image data. However, by treating the place where the character is input (the position of the target part on the schema) and the character information itself as report information. It is also expected to improve input efficiency and increase the possibility of information.

As means for realizing the example of FIG. 13, sections S1 to S8 are defined for each pixel of the schema. The report creator inputs a diseased part in a circle or freehand on the schema using a mouse pointer or the like. It obtains on which pixel on the schema the input diseased part is located, and determines in which section of S1 to S8 the diseased part was input (if the diseased part extends over a plurality of sections, a plurality of sections are selected). Is determined). When S1 to S8 are specified,
Accordingly, it is linked with the input of S1 to S8 in the table input format. Regarding the size of the diseased part, enter it from a keyboard or the like into the diseased part whose area is determined by a circle or freehand
Which part of the table input format is to be linked can be specified.

The position information of S1 to S8 and the size of the diseased part input to the schema are converted into character string data by the character conversion unit 7. At this time, the data is converted into the same character string format as when input in the table input format, and is managed by the report information management unit 8. It should be noted that, conversely, the information input in the table input format is linked to the schema.

The report information input in the character string input format, table input format, and check input format is converted into a character string by the character conversion unit 7. Describing report information in a standardized information description language XML has the effect of increasing the availability of information. The converted character string is managed and held by the report information management unit 8.

The report information management unit 8 manages the input report information in a report information table as shown in FIG. 20, and manages this table by associating it with the test identifier described above. The report information input for each part is managed in a report information table for each part, and is associated with this table identifier.

The information stored in the report information management unit 8 is converted by the report output unit 9 into a report for reporting to a doctor in the medical department who requested the examination. The report output unit 9 edits the report information converted into the character string into a format in which the doctor of the medical department can easily understand the gist of the test result, and as shown in FIG. To be displayed.

In the editing process, report information converted into a character string is arranged in a certain order (information input in a table input format → information input in a table input format), bullets, consideration for line spacing, lines between lines, If there is a connection between the two, the position of the first character is edited according to rules such as, and the input format of the report information is not conscious, and the result of the inspection is edited so that the side reading the report is most readable.

After editing the report information, the patient information, the examination information, the image, and the report information are tentatively completed as a report, and are displayed on a monitor or the like in the report display unit 10 as shown in FIG. Are printed on paper in the report printing unit 11.

After confirming the confirmation screen or the provisional report, the creator validates the input report information (finally writes the report) or invalidates the report information via the report information input unit 5 (finally writes the report). Eventually, it will not be written to the report). For example, if information indicating an abnormality is input in a table input format or a check input format, it is determined to be valid. In addition, a determination table as shown in FIG. 21 is provided, and only the items defined in the table are made valid.

This judgment table is not a simple one of valid / invalid. For example, if the item includes numerical information,
It is assumed that processing can be performed, such as outputting only when the value is equal to or more than a certain numerical value, outputting B and C items when information is input to the item A. As a result, it is possible to obtain an effect of clarifying information to be appealed by the inspector, an effect that can be overlooked when printed on a monitor or paper, and an effect of reducing the number of papers. When reporting on paper, it is best to combine them on a single sheet.

In an ultrasonic examination or an endoscopic examination, a plurality of parts are often inspected in one examination. The report information input unit 5 provides a character string input format, a table input format, and a check input format for a plurality of parts. Although the input format (basic operation method) itself is the same for each part, the configuration of the words, short sentences, and table input forms that are displayed specifically differs for each part. The report information input for each part is managed and stored in the report information management unit, and the report output unit edits the report information for each part (see FIG. 16).

When a plurality of parts are inspected in one examination, the "normal" button 137 is not individually input for each part, but is arranged on the screen by the report information input unit 5, for example. Button 136 "All is normal"
Click with the pointer. By this operation, "normal information" is set collectively for all parts to be inspected,
When sent to the report information output unit 9, a report of the part name and “normal” is created (see FIG. 17).

When the information of the inspected part is input in the inspection information input section 1 and the report information input section 5, when the "all normal" button arranged on the screen is clicked with a mouse pointer, the inspection is performed. A report “normal” is created only for the part where the error occurs (see FIG. 18).

As an application example, by arranging the signature input screen and the [all normal] button on the same screen, it is possible to easily end the report creation of the inspection without any abnormality (see FIG. 18).

When the "all normal" button is used to collectively input the parts, "normal information" is automatically reflected in the table input format, the check input format, the schema, etc., so that a simple " Instead of inputting "normal", it is also possible to automatically input more detailed information (see FIG. 19).

As described above, according to this embodiment, the report information creator can input the report information by properly using a plurality of types of input formats. High-quality reports can be created efficiently. On the other hand, the report viewer can refer to a report of high quality that is unified and has a uniform expression and the like, and can improve the report reference efficiency. For example, if the created report has variations in expression by the creator, it becomes an element that hinders the reference efficiency of the report viewer, but according to the present invention, the expression method and the like are unified without depending on the creator. Easier to create and view reports. In addition, the report viewer will contact the creator if there is any doubt about the created report, such as omission, but if the quality of the generated report is high, it is possible to reduce these inquiries. it can.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can be implemented with various modifications.

[0046]

According to the present invention, the report information creator can input the report information by appropriately using a plurality of types of input formats. Reports can be created with a small workload.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a report creation support system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a management table for associating order information, inspection information, and images in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a report information input screen in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an input screen in a character string input format in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a short sentence and word management table used in a character string input format in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an input screen in a table input format in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of an input screen in a table input format in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of character string conversion of an input result in a table input format in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of character string conversion of another input result in a table input format in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing still another example of an input screen in a table input format in the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a view showing an example of an input screen of a check input format in the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of character string conversion of an input result in a check input format in the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a linkage of a table input format with respect to an input using a schema in the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an edit screen of an input result using a character string input format, a check input format, and a table input format in the embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a view showing an example of a display screen of a created report in the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a view showing an example of an editing screen when a plurality of parts are to be inspected in the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a batch input screen and an edit screen of normal information when a plurality of parts are to be inspected in the embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing another example of a batch input screen and an edit screen of normal information when a plurality of parts are to be inspected in the embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a table input format for collectively inputting normal information when a plurality of parts are to be inspected in the embodiment;
The figure which shows linkage with a check input format.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a management table for associating inspection information and report information in the embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a view showing an example of a report output condition setting screen in the embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a configuration diagram of a conventional report creation support system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inspection information input part, 2 ... Image information management part, 3 ... Image display part, 4 ... Inspection information display part, 5 ... Report information input part, 6 ... Information input part to schema, 7 ... Character conversion part, 8 ... report information management section, 9 ... report output section, 10 ... report display section, 11 ... report printing section.

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A report creation support system for supporting creation of a report on examination results of a medical examination, wherein information necessary for creation of the report can be input by selectively using a plurality of types of input formats. A report creation support system characterized by the following. 2. The plurality of types of input formats include a character string input format for selecting a required short word from a pre-registered short word list, and a plurality of items of the same type displayed in a list. 2. The report creation support system according to claim 1, further comprising a table input format for inputting necessary information and a check input format for selecting a corresponding limb from a plurality of options corresponding to each item. 3. The report creation support system according to claim 2, wherein information input in the table input format and the check input format is converted into character string information. 4. The report creation support system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of types of input formats are selectively activated according to the type of said medical examination. 5. The report creation support system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of types of input formats are selectively activated according to a target part of the medical examination. 6. The input format according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of input formats include an input format for collectively inputting normal information to a plurality of sites to be subjected to the medical examination. Report creation support system. 7. The method according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of input formats include an input format for collectively inputting normal information to a specified site from among the plurality of sites targeted for the medical examination. The report creation support system according to claim 1, wherein: 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when normal information is input to the target part of the medical examination, the normal information is automatically input to all input items associated with the part. Report creation support system. 9. The report creation support system according to claim 1, wherein only a specified item among the plurality of input items is displayed. 10. The report creation support system according to claim 1, wherein only a specified item of the plurality of input items is printed out.