One of the important advantages of the picture archiving and communication system (PACS} is the time saved in comparison with the conventional system. A group of 100 radiologic studies done in a conventional radiology department is compared with another group of the same number done in a completely filmless PACS department to assess the difference in the radiologist report turnaround time. There was a statistically significant (P < .00001) decrease in the median imaging-to-dictation time ( p ICTURE ARCHIVING and communication system (PACS) is a hardware and software package that acts asa digital image management system in the health institute. It enables the radiologists and clinicians to retrieve and view a radiologic image at computer workstations throughout the institute.l-4 In the conventional system, the film acts as the unique image document used for image capture, viewing, and storage. Eliminating films from the radiology department is one of the most important features of PACS. By doing so, PACS eliminates all the film-associated workload. This includes film processing, filing film folders, and retrieving previous studies from film stores. Time spent on these steps constitutes a considerable part of the total radiology tumaround time. 5 Further delays could be caused by losing films or having them taken by the clinicians before being reported. That is why PACS is expected to reduce the report turnaround time significantly even in the most efficient radiology department. 5-8The radiology department of the Adelaide & Meath Hospital, Incorporating the National Children's Hospital (AMNCH) is the first in Ireland to install and operate a complete PACS. The PACS was installed in the new hospital in Tallaght and started operating the day of hospital opening on June 21, 1998. An average of 300 studies are performed daily in this department.The current study was planned with the aim of evaluating the effects PACS implementation in our department might have on radiology turnaround time. MATERIALS AND METHODSA total of 200 radiologic examinations performed in the radiology department of the AMNCH hospital were analyzed. One hundred of these examinations were done in the pre-PACS department in May 1998; the rest were done in the PACS operated department in November 1998 4 months after moving to the new hospital. The distribution of the studies by imaging modality was comparable between the 2 groups and represented the actual department's study mix. Three radiologists reported on the same type of studies in both groups.Forms were distributed for every examination recording the dates and times from the patient's arrival into the department to the time the report was typed. The time intervals between imaging to dictating the report (imaging-to-dictation time, IDT), and then to typing ir (dictation-to-typing time, DTT) were computed. The IDT is the main outcome of this analysis. DTr is used as an internal control in this analysis because there was no significant changes involving typing dictated reports in the new depar...

The objectives of this study were to: (1) establish the causes of scrotal swelling in the hospital catchment population; (2) define the role of high frequency ultrasound examination in the management of scrotal swelling. A retrospective study of 582 patients who had high frequency ultrasound examination was carried out. Those requiring more information on perfusion had colour doppler examination. Forty-four per cent of examinations were performed for scrotal swelling. The cause of the scrotal swelling was mainly extratesticular (75% of all scrotal swellings), hydrocele being the commonest. Of the intratesticular causes, infection (50.8%) and tumour (20.6%) were the commonest. In conclusion ultrasound examination distinguishes extratesticular (almost always benign) from intratesticular (potentially malignant) causes of scrotal swelling. Infection, trauma and torsion mimic the ultrasound appearance of tumour as do rare benign entities.

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At the University of Liverpool we have developed a real-time, non-intrusive multiphase dielectric meter capable of measuring the dielectric properties of different mixtures of oil, gas and water in full well stream flow. The design of such a microwave cavity using a range of rf and microwave is described. The experimental results with a wide range of multiphase mixtures from 0 to 100% are reported. In this paper we also present the implementation of a neural network to simulate the response of the meter under all conceivable conditions. Other parameters including pump speed, temperature, salt and sand are also discussed.

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