PACS Components
In medical imaging, picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) are computers or networks dedicated to the storage, retrieval, distribution and presentation of images.
Typically a PACS network consists of a central server which stores a database containing the images. This server is connected to one or more clients via a LAN or a WAN which provide and/or utilize the images. Client workstations can use local peripherals for scanning image films into the system, printing image films from the system and interactive display of digital images. PACS workstations offer means of manipulating the images (crop, rotate, zoom, brightness, contrast and others).
Modern radiology equipment feeds images directly into PACS in digital form. For backwards compatibility, most hospital imaging departments and radiology practices employ a film digitizer. The medical images are stored in an independent format.
The most common format for image storage is DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine).
