[Documentation with a digital image workstation]

PAC systems are economically advantageous if the use of hardcopies for reporting, archiving and demonstrations is restricted. In place of a film a CRT display has to be used for visualisation. Problems in reporting regarding brightness, contrast, intensity and spatial resolution are described and compared to conventional X-ray films. Results from different studies using CRT displays for reporting are summarised and compared. Some of these studies show reduced diagnostic accuracy if a CRT display is used. This problem may be solved by further developments and by the implementation of software, e.g. computer-aided diagnosis. If the quality of reporting on a CRT display is increased and equivalent to the film, the introduction of a PACS will be qualitatively and economically acceptable.