Data management solution for large-volume computed tomography in an existing picture archiving and communication system (PACS).
Multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) creates massive amounts of data, which can overload a picture archiving and communication system (PACS). To solve this problem, we designed a new data storage and image interpretation system in an existing PACS. Two MDCT image datasets, a thick- and a thin-section dataset, and a single-detector CT thick-section dataset were reconstructed. The thin-section dataset was archived in existing PACS disk space reserved for temporary storage, and the system overwrote the source data to preserve available disk space. The thick-section datasets were archived permanently. Multiplanar reformation (MPR) images were reconstructed from the stored thin-section datasets on the PACS workstation. In regular interpretations by eight radiologists during the same week, the volume of images and the times taken for interpretation of thick-section images with (246 CT examinations) or without (170 CT examinations) thin-section images were recorded, and the diagnostic usefulness of the thin-section images was evaluated. Thin-section datasets and MPR images were used in 79% and 18% of cases, respectively. The radiologists' assessments of this system were useful, though the volume of images and times taken to archive, retrieve, and interpret thick-section images together with thin-section images were significantly greater than the times taken without thin-section images. The limitations were compensated for by the usefulness of thin-section images. This data storage and image interpretation system improves the storage and availability of the thin-section datasets of MDCT and can prevent overloading problems in an existing PACS for the moment.
Yoshinobu
Takashi
T
Department of Radiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30-1 Oyaguchi kami-cho, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, 173-8610, Japan.
Abe
Katsumi
K
Sasaki
Yasuo
Y
Tabei
Makiko
M
Tanaka
Seiji
S
Takahashi
Motoichiro
M
Furuhashi
Satoru
S
Tanaka
Ikue
I
Shizukuishi
Takashi
T
Aizawa
Takuya
T
Maebayashi
Toshiya
T
Sakaguchi
Masakuni
M
Okuhata
Yoshitaka
Y
Kikuta
Junko
J
Ishibashi
Naoya
N
D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval; D011873:Radiology Information Systems; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*