DICOM and clinical data mining in a small hospital PACS: A pilot study

Abstract

Technological developments in the medical imaging acquisition and storage process have triggered the use of Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) with gradually larger archives. This paper aims to exploit advantages of using a DICOM Data Mining Tool in a hospital PACS. The results showed the tool reliability and performance to obtain and index clinical data, as well as the possibility of conducting flexible research on DICOM data fields, providing means for continuous improved practices at the Radiology Departments. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.