The PACS environment offers a readily accessible flow of electronic data that allows for the creation of adjunct clinical services such as 3-D imaging. The integration of postprocessing in its various forms can give added clinical value to an exam, offering qualitative and quantitative analysis as well as an opportunity to increase department revenue. An example of such a modular service is the 3-D imaging lab in the department of radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Technology facilitates noninvasive imaging techniques.
With these new techniques come increases in the size and number of studies. Volumetric CT angiography and CT colonoscopy are capable of creating 150 to 700 images per study. Consequently, radiologists need new methods to efficiently and accurately analyze these large data sets. If integrated into the routine daily work flow, radiologists can use these advanced imaging techniques to help them analyze large data sets. Images are transferred to 3-D workstation for analysis.