Affiliation:
1. Harvard University, USA
2. St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, USA
3. Instituto Integrado de Medicina Prof Fernando Figueira - IMIP, Brazil
Abstract
A network of interconnected computers, or “computational grids,” can facilitate the ability of users to complete complex computational tasks that would be virtually impossible with a single computer. By leveraging the computational strength of grids, individual users can efficiently disseminate, exchange, and retrieve information as easily as if it were stored locally. As the authors found in this study, the possibilities computational grids present for highly specialized medical fields such as neuro-oncology are limitless. By harnessing the power of grids, neuro-oncologists can link to sophisticated interactive medical images around the world, perform complicated statistical analyses, create larger collaborative research projects, and improve delivery of care to patients around the globe. Thus, utilization of grid computing modules will inevitably lead to marked improvements in clinicians’ ability to detect, manage, and prevent complications associated with brain tumors.