PACS Systems and Quality Control Part 1 - Image Post Processing

Summary

This module focuses on picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), quality control, and assurance in digital radiography. It covers post-processing activities, DICOM standards, PACS components, HL7 significance, and archival strategies. The script emphasizes the importance of following protocols for software functions like image shuttering, subtraction, and edge enhancement. It also discusses the role of technologists and medical physicists in quality assurance and the impact of digital imaging artifacts.

Takeaways

• 💻 **Digital Transformation in Radiology**: Advances in computed technology have significantly impacted healthcare and transformed Radiology.
• 📈 **Dynamic Range of Digital Imaging**: Digital Imaging systems have a greater dynamic range than film screen systems, allowing for more shades of gray to be captured.
• 🛠️ **Software Manipulation**: Computer software capabilities enable the manipulation of digital image data to enhance anatomic structures, suppress noise, and adjust brightness and contrast.
• 🏥 **Protocols and Terminology**: Radiographers and Radiologists should follow institutional protocols and be aware of vendor-specific terminology for digital imaging functions.
• 🖼️ **Image Shuttering**: Image shuttering can aesthetically improve the display of images but should not replace proper collimation or beam restriction.
• ❌ **ASRT Position on Masking**: The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) opposes the use of masking or cropping that eliminates areas of exposure from the image presented for interpretation.
• 🔍 **Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA)**: DSA enhances contrast medium-filled structures while suppressing overlying anatomical structures, particularly useful in studies using contrast media.
• 📊 **Edge Enhancement**: This software function uses algorithms to increase image contrast by averaging signal strength of adjacent pixels and amplifying known frequencies of interest.
• 🔄 **Smoothing**: Smoothing software function removes high-frequency noise by averaging each pixel's frequency with surrounding pixel values, resulting in a smoother image with reduced noise and detail.
• 🧩 **Image Stitching**: Stitching software allows radiographers to join multiple processed images into a single image format for studies like scoliosis and limb length.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the third module in the digital radiography course?

The main focus of the third module is on Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) and quality control and assurance in digital radiography.

What impact have advances in computed technology had on healthcare and radiology?

Advances in computed technology have transformed healthcare, particularly in radiology, by enabling digital imaging and communication, improving diagnostic capabilities, and enhancing patient care.

What are the 11 objectives that participants will understand by the end of the presentation?

Participants will understand the purpose of common post-processing activities, the difference between HIS and RIS, the use of DICOM, the components and functions of PACS, safety and emergency procedures, the significance of HL7, short-term and long-term image archival, the difference between quality control and quality assurance procedures, the difference between QC and QA procedures performed by technologists versus medical physicists, quality assurance procedures in digital imaging, and imaging artifacts in computed and digital radiography.

What is the dynamic range of digital imaging systems compared to film-screen systems?

Digital imaging systems have a greater dynamic range than film-screen systems, allowing for more shades of gray to be captured by the image receptor.

How does image shuttering enhance the appearance of a radiographic image?

Image shuttering allows the radiographer to place a black border around the original collimated edges of the image, which eliminates any white areas seen around a collimated image and makes the displayed image more aesthetically pleasing.

Why is proper collimation important in radiography?

Proper collimation restricts the X-ray beam to the anatomy of interest, reduces patient dose, and increases contrast resolution by reducing the amount of scatter produced.

What was the American Society of Radiologic Technologists' (ASRT) position on the use of masking or image cropping in 2015?

The ASRT took a strong position against the use of masking or image cropping that eliminates any areas of exposure from the image that are presented for interpretation.

What is digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and its significance?

Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is a process used in radiography, particularly in studies using contrast media, to enhance contrast medium-filled structures while suppressing overlying anatomical structures.

How does edge enhancement work in digital imaging software?

Edge enhancement uses an algorithm to convert the image into the spatial frequency domain, averaging the signal strength of adjacent pixels, and amplifying known frequencies of interest while suppressing others to produce an image with increased contrast.

What is the purpose of the smoothing software function in digital imaging?

The smoothing function removes high-frequency noise from the image by averaging each pixel's frequency with surrounding pixel values, resulting in a smoother image appearance, reduced noise, and decreased image detail.

How does stitching software help in scoliosis and limb length studies?

Stitching software allows the radiographer to join separate processed images, acquired using multiple exposures on separate image receptors, into a single image format for comprehensive analysis.