Nuclear Cardiology: Nuclear Cardiology:

Chapter 16 / Remote Reading and Networking 253The typical hardware components of a LAN are• Main computer with network software and Ethernet card.• Hub.• Router.• RJ45 cables for inter-computer connections.• Fire wall for protection from intrusion from outside.STORAGEStorage of digital image data (raw and/or processed data) is of clinicalimportance because it allows for comparison of a recent patient studywith previous studies of the same patient. Raw image data may be transferredfrom the acquisition computers through the LAN to a centralcomputer that serves as a storage device. For easy access to previousstudies, it is advisable to store relatively recent (< 3 yr) data on-line fora limited number of years. For long-term storage, image data can bestored on optical disks and/or tapes. Obviously retrieval of data fromoptical disks , and, in particular, from magnetic tape, takes considerablymore time than on-line retrieval. In our laboratory all data are doublybacked up in storage. For storage of large volumes of digital data, storageon juke-box and raid library is an optimal solution. For accreditation bythe ICANL, it is a requirement that one submits digital data retrievedfrom storage.SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY1. Bateman TM, Cullom J, Case JA (1999). Wide area networking in nuclear cardiology.J Nucl Cardiol 6:211–218.2. Parker JA, Wallis JW, Jadvar H, Christian P, Todd-Pokropek A (2002). Procedureguideline for telenuclear medicine 1.0. J Nucl Med 43:1410–1413.