[Current requirements for image management in radiotherapy].

Area of Science:

• Radiotherapy physics and technology
• Medical imaging informatics
• Radiation oncology workflow management

Context:

• Increasing complexity of radiotherapy techniques (e.g., dynamic/rotational) necessitates advanced digital image management and archiving.
• Growing volumes of image data in radiation oncology departments present significant infrastructural and administrative challenges.
• Current image management strategies vary, impacting data accessibility and long-term preservation.

Purpose:

• To discuss the current requirements for image management and archiving in modern radiotherapy.
• To present and compare different image administration strategies, including application-centered and centralized approaches.
• To evaluate the infrastructural needs associated with escalating image data generation.

Summary:

• Fundamentals of image administration, storage, and archiving (DICOM Standard, radiotherapy-specific issues) are presented within the patient treatment pathway.
• Strategies range from application-centered archiving to an integrated approach using a DICOM-RT Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) managed by a Radiation Oncology Information System (ROCIS).
• Infrastructural demands are analyzed based on departmental image data volume.

Impact:

• Centralized image management and archiving, linked via a standardized DICOM(-RT) environment, is recommended for better data integrity and traceability.
• This approach facilitates linking images to patients and treatment steps, offering a more migration-safe and robust solution compared to application-centered methods.
• Despite potential visualization challenges, centralized archiving enhances data security and supports comprehensive patient care pathways.