A picture archiving and communications system featuring multiple monitors using Windows98

We present an effective approach to manage, review, and distribute Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) images with multiple monitor s using Windows98 (Microsoft Corp, Redmond, WA) that can be implemented in an office-based setting. Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imagi ng (MRI), and angiographic DICOM images were collected, compressed, and sto red using Medweb (Medweb, Inc, San Francisco, CA) software. The Medweb serv er used the Linux/UNIX operating system on a Pentium 333-MHz processor with 128 MB of RAM. Short-term storage capacity was about 2 weeks with routine usage of an 11-GB hard drive. Images were presented for reading on a dual-m onitor Windows98 Pentium display station with 160 MB of RAM using a Medweb/ Netscape (Netscape Communications Corp, Mountain View, CA) viewer. There wa s no significant discrepancy in diagnosis between electronic and convention al film images. Mean reading time for 32 cases was 118 seconds. The Medweb JAVA plug-in viewer loaded the first image within 30 seconds of selecting t he case for review. Full uncompressed 16-bit images allowed different windo w settings to better assess for pathology. Multiple monitors allowed viewin g various hanging protocols. Cine viewing was also possible. Key diagnostic images were electronically transmitted to referring physicians. On-call ra diologists were able to access images through the Internet. By combining Me dweb, DICOM, and web-browser software using desktop personal computers (PCs ), an easily accessible picture archiving and communications system (PACS) is available to radiologists and referring physicians. Multiple monitors ar e easily configured and managed using Windows98. This system can sustain ch anges and can be extended to provide variable functions using inexpensive P Cs. Copyright (C) 1999 by W.B. Saunders Company.