Evaluation of radiological workstations and web-browser-based image distribution clients for a PACS project in hands-on workshops

Abstract

The methodology and outcome of a hands-on workshop for the evaluation of PACS (picture archiving and communication system) software for a multihospital PACS project are described. The following radiological workstations and web-browser-based image distribution software clients were evaluated as part of a multistep evaluation of PACS vendors in March 2001: Impax DS 3000 V 4.1/Impax Web1000 (Agfa-Gevaert, Mortsel, Belgium); PathSpeed V 8.0/PathSpeed Web (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, Wis., USA); ID Report/ID Web (Image Devices, Idstein, Germany); EasyVision DX/EasyWeb (Philips Medical Systems, Eindhoven, Netherlands); and MagicView 1000 VB33a/MagicWeb (Siemens Medical Systems, Erlangen, Germany). A set of anonymized DICOM test data was provided to enable direct image comparison. Radiologists ( n=44) evaluated the radiological workstations and nonradiologists ( n=53) evaluated the image distribution software clients using different questionnaires. One vendor was not able to import the provided DICOM data set. Another vendor had problems in displaying imported cross-sectional studies in the correct stack order. Three vendors (Agfa-Gevaert, GE, Philips) presented server-client solutions with web access. Two (Siemens, Image Devices) presented stand-alone solutions. The highest scores in the class of radiological workstations were achieved by ID Report from Image Devices ( p<0.005). In the class of image distribution clients, the differences were statistically not significant. Questionnaire-based evaluation was shown to be useful for guaranteeing systematic assessment. The workshop was a great success in raising interest in the PACS project in a large group of future clinical users. The methodology used in the present study may be useful for other hospitals evaluating PACS.

Swiss teleradiology survey: present situation and future trends

“…Similar to a large German survey, an emergency teleradiology service is the most important purpose of teleradiology [12,13]. Electronic image distribution is increasingly important in a filmless environment [14]. A Norwegian study has found that teleradiology has an important role in improving interhospital management of patients with head injuries [15].…”

“…New concepts rely on vendor-independent standard protocols without specific additions, such as DICOM e-mail published in DICOM supplement 54 that defines a connection between the internet and the medical communication inside hospitals [18,19]. Server-based distribution is already widely used for image distribution to referring physicians [14]. Web-based teleradiology management systems have been developed for patient transfers from one facility to another transferring images from PACS to PACS [20].…”

Development and evaluation of a new gray-scale test pattern to adjust gradients of thoracic CT imaging

“…As the result of the luminance measurement of these two functions by NGTP, we could ascertain that measured luminance values corresponded to the result, which was mathematically computed by each equation, i.e., the Barten model and CIELAB model. Recently, DICOM has become a standard in medicine and the efficient use of various radiological modalities based on DICOM has been reported [11][12][13][14]. The NGTP is widely available because it is compatible with the DICOM format, e.g., for the quality control of medical diagnostic display systems connected with CT or MRI equipment in the network.…”

Enterprise imaging and multi-departmental PACS

“…With the introduction of large-scale PACS and the capability for web-based image distribution [1][2][3], this impression began to change. The need for integration with the Hospital Information System (HIS) [4][5][6][7] and the Electronic Patient Record (EPR) [8][9][10] became evident, although the latter is still not seen too often [11], making PACS a well perceived part of the hospital's IT-landscape.…”