Image storage in radiation oncology: What did we learn from diagnostic radiology?

Kurt Blodgett; Marc Luick; Athanasios Colonias; Olivier Gayou; Stephen Karlovits; E. Day Werts

doi:10.1117/12.813542

13 March 2009 Image storage in radiation oncology: What did we learn from diagnostic radiology?

Kurt Blodgett, Marc Luick, Athanasios Colonias, Olivier Gayou, Stephen Karlovits, E. Day Werts

Proceedings Volume 7264, Medical Imaging 2009: Advanced PACS-based Imaging Informatics and Therapeutic Applications; 726414 (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.813542
Event: SPIE Medical Imaging, 2009, Lake Buena Vista (Orlando Area), Florida, United States

Abstract

The Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standard was developed by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and the American College of Radiology (ACR) for medical image archiving and retrieval. An extension to this implemented a standard named DICOM-RT for use in Radiation Oncology. There are currently seven radiotherapy-specific DICOM objects which include: RT Structure Set, RT Plan, RT Dose, RT Image, RT Beams Treatment Record, RT Brachy Treatment Record, and RT Treatment Summary Record. The type of data associated with DICOM-RT includes (1) Radiation treatment planning datasets (CT, MRI, PET) with radiation treatment plans showing beam arrangements, isodose distributions, and dose volume histograms of targets/normal tissues and (2) Image-guided radiation modalities such as Siemens MVision mega-voltage cone beam CT (MV-CBCT). With the advent of such advancing technologies, there has been an exponential increase in image data collected for each patient, and the need for reliable and accessible image storage has become critical. A potential solution is a Radiation Oncology specific picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) that would allow data storage from multiple vendor devices and support the storage and retrieval needs not only of a single site but of a large, multi-facility network of radiation oncology clinics. This PACS system must be reliable, expandable, and cost-effective to operate while protecting sensitive patient image information in a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant environment. This paper emphasizes the expanding DICOM-RT storage requirements across our network of 8 radiation oncology clinics and the initiatives we undertook to address the increased volume of data by using the ImageGrid (CANDELiS Inc, Irvine CA) server and the IGViewer license (CANDELiS Inc, Irvine CA) to create a DICOM-RT compatible PACS system.

Citation Download Citation

Kurt Blodgett, Marc Luick, Athanasios Colonias, Olivier Gayou, Stephen Karlovits, and E. Day Werts "Image storage in radiation oncology: What did we learn from diagnostic radiology?", Proc. SPIE 7264, Medical Imaging 2009: Advanced PACS-based Imaging Informatics and Therapeutic Applications, 726414 (13 March 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.813542

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