3RD JAPAN-NORDIC SYMPOSIUM, OSAKA, OCTOBER 5-7, 1992 - ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSIONS

The round table discussions dealt with standardisation and its role in PACS and medical imaging, and with the assessment of medical imaging and targeting R&D based on that. Two approaches to enable image files to be transferred were discussed in the standardisation session. First ly, the standardisation efforts in Europe, USA and Japan which all foc us on a single standard on image transfer and file format were discuss ed. A plea was made to merge these three approaches. It was also noted that the Japanese IS&C standard is essentially a standard for off-lin e PACS. Secondly, an argument was raised that as several image file fo rmats are already in existence (because of the different computer plat forms in use), what is needed are converters between these de-facto fo rmats instead of striving towards one common standard. The round table on assessment focused on the changes in the radiological practices wh ich are already emerging following the introduction of new digital ima ging modalities. It was argued that PACS will cause further organisati onal changes because a hospital-wide PACS enables images to be viewed everywhere. The radiology meetings have been the mechanism for discuss ing difficult cases. In the PACS world their role may change. However, PACS will only diffuse when it offers clear advantages over the prese nt procedures. This means that PACS, digital imaging and radiology pra ctices evolve in parallel and incrementally.