Radiologists routinely made diagnoses by looking at images on the modality’s computer screen. Ultrasound mini-PACS networks were the norm in many hospitals. As stated earlier, the first PACS served a single modality, namely, ultrasound. Ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and nuclear medicine have been digital for many years and have been taking advantage of PACS far longer than general radiography has. In modern radiology departments, most images are acquired in a digital format, meaning that the images are inherently digital and can be transferred via a computer network. Finally, as physicians and hospitals became interested, it was determined that there must be standardization.įIGURE 9-3 A collage of PACS components: image acquisition, display workstation, and archive server. As vendors became more involved, they developed proprietary systems that were very specific to their modalities. Large research institutions housed early systems because most were developed by the scientists who worked at those institutions. The first PACSs were used in the early 1980s and generally served a single modality. The PACS is an electronic version of the radiologist reading room and the file room. This chapter outlines the basic concept of a PACS and its components, describes common PACS architecture, and gives examples of typical PACS work flows that may be seen in a hospital.Īs discussed in Chapter 1, a PACS consists of digital acquisition, display workstations, and storage devices interconnected through an intricate network ( Figure 9-1). The initial capital cost is great, but the benefit of having the system far outweighs the cost. The picture archiving and communication system (PACS) is becoming more commonplace in today’s hospitals because hospital administrators have come to see the necessity of having such a system to serve physicians and patients even though it is expensive. Picture archiving and communication system (PACS) Describe the situations and users that may require advanced PACS workstation functions.ĭigital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM).

Summarize the common functions found on a PACS workstation.Define system architecture and recognize the three major models.Differentiate among the different types of digital imaging work flow.Compare and contrast the various types of PACS display workstations.Define picture archiving and communication system (PACS).

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