A review of digital image networking technologies for radiation oncology treatment planning

Dosimetrists, physicists, and physicians rely heavily upon digital imaging modalities in their daily work. In the current healthcare marketplace, many radiotherapy facilities operate satellite centers or may be undergoing mergers with other service providers in their community. As a consequence, the development of network-based radiotherapy image communication may yield a significant impact on the clinical operation of such centers. Digital image networking will become an everyday tool in radiotherapy treatment planning in the near future. As responsible users of this technology, an accurate perception of what the network does is essential and enhances our ability to utilize it. This article presents a review of the network architecture and transmission standards necessary for understanding and developing a radiotherapy image network.