CHAPTER 1
Introduction
1.1 INTRODUCTION
PACS (picture archiving and communication system) based on digital, communication, display, and information technologies has revolutionized the practice of radiology, and in a sense, of medicine during the past fifteen years. This textbook introduces the PACS basic concept, terminology, technological development, and implementation, as well as PACS-based applications to clinical practice and PACS-based imaging informatics. There are many advantages of introducing digital, communications, display, and information technologies (IT) to the conventional paper and film-based operation in radiology and medicine. For example, through digital imaging plate and detector technology, and various energy source digital imaging modalities, it is possible to improve the modality diagnostic value while at the same time reducing the radiation exposure to the patient; then through the computer and display, the digital image can be manipulated for value-added diagnosis. Also digital, communication, IT technologies can been used to understand the healthcare delivery workflow, resulting in a speed-up of healthcare delivery and reduction of medical operation costs.
With all these benefits, digital communication and IT are gradually changing the way medical images and related information in the healthcare industry are acquired, stored, viewed, and communicated. One natural development along this line is the emergence of digital radiology departments and digital ...
