Imaging of the Spine: A Medical and Physical Perspective - Spinal Imaging and Image Analysis - page 25

Fig. 23 Clinical viewing workstation for diagnostic interpretation of studies. Diagnostic
workstation displays patient ' s DICOM images with associated relevant clinical medical history
submitted by the ordering physician, as well as prior (interpreted and archived) images and reports.
Basic real time manipulation of the images may be performed at the workstation. Handset (bottom
left) and headset (bottom right) are seen, for dictation of study report through voice recognition
system. Sample MRI examination of the spine is shown

informational objects. Diagnostic interpretative data, rendered by the physician
reviewing the study, is stored on the PACS in association with the image data in
voice or text format.
In the past, medical images such as radiographs were obtained on sheets of
photographic

film, with data regarding pathology then retained in analog format,
both spatially, and in terms of detected energy translated into gray levels in the
photographic emulsion. Current generation imaging scanners quantize diagnostic
information in the detection process, and generate digital images as output, which
are stored as pixel matrices. As noted previously, grayscale presentation of data is
most common, with bit depths of 10 or 12 typically found on the diagnostic
workstations. Color imaging is used for specialized diagnostic visualization, such as
multimodal imaging (PET/CT) or Doppler ultrasound, where two data sets are
superimposed. Matrix size generally varies by modality, typically can range from
256

× 256 to 1,024 × 1,024 for CT and 1,024 × 1,024 to 2,048 × 2,048 for

radiography.
Other integrated computer systems in the typical diagnostic imaging department
and hospital are termed the Radiology Information System (RIS) for storage,
editing, and transmission of patient radiological data, and the Hospital Information
System (HIS), a multifunctional information management system more broadly
incorporating multilevel patient clinical information as well as other functions.