#25 Practical Digital Imaging and PACS (1999 AAPM Summer School)

Author:  Anthony Seibert et al
ISBN:  9780944838921      ISBN10:  0944838928
Published:  1999 | 577 pp |  Softcover

Price:   $ 65.00


  
  




American Journal of Roentgenology  |  April 2000


"Practical Digital Imaging and PACS is a compendium of 24 independently authored chapters written or coauthored by the faculty of the 1999 American Association of Physicists in Medicine diagnostic radiology summer school. At the start of this review, however, I would like to make clear that the value of the material in this work is not limited to physicists or personnel in medical diagnostic imaging. The selection of topics, organization of the material, and range of information presented make this book not only suitable, but perhaps mandatory, for anyone (e.g., physicists, radiologists, computer scientists, hospital information managers, imaging research professionals) who is now or will soon be actively engaged in the transition from film-based medical imaging and paper-based record keeping to a fully digital, filmless, and paperless medical practice. Practical Digital Imaging and PACS is aptly edited by accomplished authors and experienced educators in the field of digital imaging technology.

"In the introductory chapter, coeditor Larry Filipow provides an excellent description of digital picture archiving and communication systems - PACS (he prefers IMACS - image management and communication system). His writing not only provides a comprehensive overview of the major topics associated with PACS, it also presents an overview of the publication. This text, as it can be accurately called, covers the essential topics associated with digital imaging technology: production of digital images; digital communication and network infrastructure; file and image management; image display and analysis; the specification, acquisition, and implementation of PACS: and data storage and retrieval.

"The section on production of digital images constitutes more than one third of the material, which seems quite appropriate because PACS begins with the production of the digital image via a diagnostic technique (nuclear medicine, CT, MR imaging, digital angiography and fluoroscopy, film digitization, photostimulable or direct radiography, or sonography). These chapters present introductory overviews of the respective techniques and describe their unique requirements or contributions to the production of the digital image. Digital communication and network infrastructure comprises three chapters, two of which are authored by Brent Stewart, who has masterfully transformed bookshelves full of knowledge and years of experience into a concise, accurate description of contemporary network technology. File and image management includes three chapters with special emphasis on the current Digital Imaging and COmmunications in Medicine standard and the technologic and medical-legal aspects of image compression. Image display and analysis is presented in five chapters. I was particularly impressed with the vast range of information that was presented on this important topic. There is an excellent description of the theoretic and experimental aspects of image quality and patient dose authored by Ian A. Cunningham, with many practical aspects of image quality assurance, including the performance evaluation of display workstations described by various authors. Of note is the brief but informative chapter on the implementation of Web browsers for medical image distribution. The topics of specification, acquisition, and implementation of PACS are covered in three chapters. One of these chapters, entitled 'An RFP for a PACS,' was written by Filipow and includes a detailed request for proposal, which by itself could justify the acquisition of this publication by anyone intimately involved in the purchase of comprehensive or supplemental PACS equipment. Data storage and retrieval is the final topic covered and consists of only one chapter of 14 pages. This is perhaps the only, yet significant, disappointment in this otherwise conprehensive and informative volume. As those who have heretofore been involved with the implementation of PACS will testify, the short- and long-term storage and retrieval of image date is often the most significant stumbling block. Yet the author, Douglas M. Tucker, chose to 'avoid in-depth discussion of specific technologies or implementation challenges faced in the medical imaging domain.'

"Although a wealth of technical knowledge is contained in this volume, it has no index, nor are the chapters appropriately organized by topic. Nevertheless, Practical Digital Imaging and PACS succeeds in presenting up-to-date, comprehensive, and valuable practical knowledge that would be useful to any health care professional involved in medical imaging and PACS today."

Philip L. Rauch
Henry Ford Hospital
Detroit, MI 48202