Files are in the form of X-ray film and copies of radiographs. The radiographs usually illustrate one or more teaching points that the department's faculty has felt are important to the trainee's understanding of radiology practice and patient care. Thus, a TF is prepared so that trainees will have exposure to the particular disease entity and become familiar with the radiographic findings as well as the appropriate use of the modality. The TF usually gives a brief discussion of the pertinent X-ray findings, the differential diagnosis, and a monologue regarding the particular disease entity illustrated. A TF system categorizes and stores each case.
Files generated over the years take up a considerable amount of room in a radiology department.
A film librarian's services may be required to police and maintain these frequently used files. The films deteriorate with age and older film is stored on acetate sheets, which is dangerous, as it is flammable. In the United States today, more and more radiologic data changes to a digital format and less is produced in analog form. The change to entirely digital radiography with PACS is upon us now that digital storage media and image compression algorithms are sophisticated enough to handle the hordes of data that is generated by a large academic radiology department. Although radiographs may be printed for use outside the PACS environment, this should decrease to nearly zero in the near future when nation-wide PACS is a reality.