PACS Fundamentals Overview

The primary reading station for radiologists, used for reviewing images and performing quality control.

Picture Archiving and Communication System. A system for managing and viewing medical images digitally.

Number of pixels on a display. Higher resolution means more detail in the image.

The smallest unit of a digital image, representing a color, shade or brightness.

A type of monitor used in PACS, known for good resolution, light output and low heat.

A type of monitor, a predecessor to LCD, having been more common in the past, with some limitations.

A station where technologists review images for quality.

Adjustments or changes made to a medical image.

The ability to distinguish details in an image.

A grid of points that represents an image, each with a specific intensity level.

Monitors with a large number of pixels that provide enhanced image quality, crucial in detailed examinations.

Software/systems that store, manage, and share medical images.

Workstations designed for referring physicians, facilitating image and report review.

Workstations for radiologists, optimized for diagnosis with top-quality hardware and software.

A system that manages patient information related to radiology.

Dedicated workstations for radiologists, referring physicians, and technologists, each with different needs and capabilities.

A PACS allows viewing the same images in multiple locations simultaneously, improving patient care continuity and speed.

The technologist QC station reviews images for quality before sending them to the radiologist.

QC stations are often placed between imaging modalities and the radiologist to ensure images meet quality standards.

Technologists can adjust images on the QC station, but changes must be minimal and approved by the radiologist.

Technologists can access previous images of a patient on the QC station to help with current procedures.

File rooms in PACS environments are smaller and less reliant on physical film, relying more on digital storage.

File room workstations are used for retrieving images for physicians, creating copies for patient referrals, and even managing patient data.

Many hospitals prefer CDs for patient image sharing instead of printed films to reduce costs.

The accuracy of the patient demographics that are entered into it.

It becomes difficult to retrieve the patient's images in the future.

Customizable ways in which a set of images is displayed on the monitor - how many and how they are arranged.

Viewing a series of images in a continuous flow, like a short film.

Tools used to move between different parts of a PACS - images, series, studies, patients.

The scroll wheel, mouse right-click menu and keyboard arrows.

A complete set of images from a single examination. Can be one or more series.

Customizable list where users can find and select patients.

A feature that allows you to view images in a sequence, frame by frame. It's like a movie player for medical pictures.

Changing the brightness (level) and contrast (window) of a medical image to enhance visibility of details.

Adding text or drawings to a medical image for clarification or highlighting areas of interest.

This function allows you to adjust the orientation of a medical image to match the anatomical position of the patient.

Lead markers are vital in digital imaging to ensure the radiologist is viewing the correct side of a patient.

Avoid labeling left and right for patient's sides with annotations, as it can be easily manipulated.

This icon allows you to close the current patient or study, either going back to the patient list or moving to the next unopened study.

Medical imaging software uses icons (small pictures) to represent actions like opening a patient’s studies or moving to the next unread patient.

Enlarges a square area of an image on a PACS station, allowing radiologists to examine details more closely. The square can be moved around the image to view different areas.

Measures the distance between structures in a medical image on a PACS station, utilizing the known size of each pixel.

Measures the angle between two structures in a medical image on a PACS station, commonly used to analyze the spine.

A tool on PACS stations that identifies and analyzes the pixel intensity of a specific area in a medical image, helping radiologists distinguish between solid and fluid structures.

Information like patient name, ID, date of birth, etc., which is crucial for correctly retrieving and managing medical images.

A PACS feature that allows users to search for and retrieve medical images from the archive using various criteria, such as patient name, date of service, or modality.

Allows copying and pasting images into documents from PACS systems, commonly used for presentations, but patient information must be removed for privacy.