What Is a PACS System and What Does PACS Mean?

The name PACS stands for Picture Archiving Communication System, that is, image archiving and communication system. Its function is to streamline the processes of acquiring, managing, distributing, and storing medical images, benefiting healthcare staff, administrative personnel, and, of course, patients.

It could be said that PACS systems are the digital version of the radiologist's reading room and archive. Their main objective is the systematic storage, management, viewing, and distribution of medical information and images.

How Does a PACS System Work?

Basically, PACS systems work as follows:

1. Images are acquired from the diagnostic modality (X-ray, CT scan, MRI, etc.).
2. Reception of the images in digital format.
3. Sending of the images to a server, where they are integrated into the database.
4. Viewing and interpretation of the images.
5. Issuance of the report or results report.
6. Diagnosis.

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Taking the above into account, we can see that PACS works as a large database in which several actions and processes converge: the viewing, processing, management, and distribution of medical information and images, and the issuance of reports. This means it does not merely store data, but allows it to be managed in a more useful and efficient way.

What Are the Components of a PACS System?

The components of PACS systems are as follows:

• Interfaces for imaging equipment or modalities,  such as: linear accelerator (LINAC), computed axial tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (US), mammography, nuclear medicine (NM), and others.
• Communication networks, such as the internet and intranet.
• Archiving systems. For example, storage on a local server or cloud storage.
• Workstations for the display and viewing of images. In some cases, images can be viewed from a DICOM viewer without being on a workstation.
• Software designed for database management.

DICOM Format in PACS Systems

The DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) standard is an image format for the comprehensive communication of clinical imaging studies. In other words, it serves as a link between internal communication (covering all imaging modalities) and external communication (facilitating communication with other PACS servers and DICOM workstations).

The DICOM format is a protocol used to share images so that they are compatible with any medical equipment, computer, and operating system (Mac, Windows, Linux, etc.). It also has the advantage of being usable with a Canon or Nikon camera.

Images are shared and analyzed using a DICOM viewer. Ideally, the DICOM viewer should be integrated with the PACS system, making it easy to prepare a diagnostic report by accessing patient data within a single system.

Advantages of PACS Systems

To achieve all its objectives, PACS adapts to the location where it will be installed and the existing imaging equipment at the center or institution. It therefore adapts completely to the center and the services it wishes to provide, rather than the other way around, unlike other technologies that are becoming obsolete.

Among the advantages of PACS systems, we find:

• Time savings. The radiologist can interpret more studies in less time.
• Cost savings. Significant savings are seen in printing radiological films, physical storage space, paper costs for printing results, and much more.
• Modernization of a clinical system. Medical centers that use PACS systems see immediate improvements after implementing them. For example, patient information can be accessed on the same platform.
• Better patient care. Today, patients expect digitized services. They will appreciate receiving their diagnoses quickly and digitally.
• Teleradiology capability. This enables collaboration between specialists, as well as allowing physicians to interpret studies remotely. This ultimately leads to savings in resources and time, and further improvements in productivity.

What Factors Should I Consider Before Choosing a PACS System?

We interviewed Dr. Benjamín Conde Castro, a physician specializing in Radiology and subspecializing in oncological imaging and breast imaging. According to him, when choosing a PACS system:

“Undoubtedly, price must be taken into account. It is good practice to compare prices between systems.

Other differentiating factors are that some platforms do not offer engineering support. It is better to have the assurance that technical support will be there to resolve any problem”.

Regarding his opinion of Eva PACS, Dr. Conde said:

“Eva PACS is a very intuitive and easy-to-use platform. It is a system just as fast as the more expensive ones, and in other respects, Eva is far above many other tools I have tried. What stands out the most to me is the MPR function, which is very, very fast.

I like that the tools are customizable, and they are the ones used most frequently.”

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In Conclusion

In conclusion, picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) are an innovative tool that has been progressively adopted by the radiology departments of healthcare centers and institutions.

Above all, this is because they represent a step toward the digitalization of radiology and imaging services.

References

• Centro Nacional de Excelencia Tecnológica en Salud (National Center for Health Technology Excellence) Guide. 2009. "Technology Guide No. 41: Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS)," no. 41: 38.

Heinze-Martin, Gerhard, Víctor Hugo Olmedo-Canchola, Germán Bazán-Miranda, Napoléon Andrés Bernard-Fuentes, and Diana Patricia Guízar-Sánchez. 2018. "Los Médicos Especialistas En México." Gaceta de México 154 (3): 342–51. https://doi.org/10.24875/gmm.18003770.