Operational scenarios and implementation issues for T1-rate satellite telemammography

Proposed new regional and global satellite communications networks offer the promise of small, inexpensive ground terminals, low connectivity cost, and universal access to relatively high bandwidth communications links. These systems enable consideration of previously impractical telemedicine applications. A particular area of widespread interest is telemammography, with the potential to connect with experts located in large medical facilities the millions of women for whom annual mammography screening is recommended. It can be particularly useful to patients located in remote, rural areas where the nearest mammography expert is hundreds of miles away. This paper discusses possible telemammography network scenarios which include satellite links, describes operational, technical and clinical implementation issues which must be addressed to enable efficient satellite telemammography, and gives current results of some research efforts in satellite telemammography.