PC reporting system for radiologists: practical use under PACS environment

To evaluate the practical usefulness of several types of the reporting syst em especially for radiologists, we have developed and employed several repo rting systems. We categorized those reporting systems as follows (1) stand alone PC reporting system; (2) linked reporting system with PACS environmen t; (3) integrated three-dimensional (3D) imaging workstation (WS) with the intranet. We have evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of those three systems, and compared between the reporting system without PACS and networ k reporting system with PACS. Using linked reporting system with PACS, radi ologists could easily reference both previous reports and archived diagnost ic images, and also make their teaching files quickly. In conclusion, the r eporting system under PACS environment is found to be practical and helpful for Japanese radiologists. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All righ ts reserved.