Data Management Solution for Large-Volume Computed Tomography in an Existing Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS)

• Published in: Journal of digital imaging 2011-02, Vol.24 (1), p.107-113
• Main Authors: Yoshinobu, Takashi, Abe, Katsumi, Sasaki, Yasuo, Tabei, Makiko, Tanaka, Seiji, Takahashi, Motoichiro, Furuhashi, Satoru, Tanaka, Ikue, Shizukuishi, Takashi, Aizawa, Takuya, Maebayashi, Toshiya, Sakaguchi, Masakuni, Okuhata, Yoshitaka, Kikuta, Junko, Ishibashi, Naoya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Archiving; Communication systems; Computation; Data storage; Disks; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Imaging; Information Storage and Retrieval; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Pictures; Radiology; Radiology Information Systems; Tomography; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods
• ISSN: 0897-1889; 1618-727X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10278-009-9251-3

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.