[Modular project of the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS). Preliminary clinical experience. II]

In the previous paper in this volume the PAC System installed in the Radiology Department of the University of Trieste has been described and its advantages and limitations have been analyzed, mainly from an operational point of view. This paper deals with the clinical evaluation of the system in ordinary operative conditions. A series of cases with specific characteristics was monitored in order to reveal different performances in both diagnostic process and conclusions using the PACS viewing console (DW) vs. conventional CRT film images on alternators. In a first test, 100 routine (not pre-selected) brain CT cases were independently analyzed by 4 radiologists, each of them giving 2 interpretations of the same case, one based on film and the other on PACS. The data were analyzed by conventional statistical methods, showing a substantial agreement of the results obtained with the 2 modalities. A second test concerned the evaluation of 100 lumbar intervertebral disks by CT, with the same procedure as above. Four radiologists were again asked to decide on film and PACS images about normality, protusion, or herniation of the disks. The results demonstrate the possibility of adequately reporting on the PACS monitor and stress the need of an adequate training period and the efficacy of the image processing capabilities of the system.