Feasibility of performing a virtual patient examination using three-dimensional ultrasonographic data acquired at remote locations

To evaluate the feasibility of performing three‐dimensional ultrasonographic studies that meet American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and American College of Radiology ultrasonographic examination guidelines with review off‐line and at remote locations. One hundred patients were studied at 2 institutions using high‐end two‐dimensional clinical ultrasonographic scanners and commercially available three‐dimensional ultrasonography for a variety of organ systems (first‐ and second‐trimester fetus, abdomen, and female pelvis). We evaluated several parameters, including measurements, completeness of organ visualization, abnormalities identified, image quality, number of volumes required, and discrepancies between interpretations. Overall, three‐dimensional ultrasonography could produce diagnostic‐quality results comparable with those of two‐dimensional ultrasonography. Three‐dimensional ultrasonographic image quality was lower than that of two‐dimensional ultrasonography. Two‐ and three‐dimensional ultrasonographic measurements were comparable (