A Practical Approach to Store DICOM-conform Presentations of Radiological Images

Engrane is a system which is used to prepare and show presentations of radiological images as well as the reports which belong to these images. The presentations with Engrane will be performed by displaying DICOM (digital imaging and communication in medicine) images and an interpretation of the images presented as text. A database is used to manage DICOM-objects like images and reports. Images are transferred using the DICOM protocol enhanced by TLS (transport layer security) protocol. Correlating images and reports is necessary as well as a log mechanism which is used to reconstruct a presentation. The correlation and the log mechanism lead to SR (structured reporting). An order is needed for sequences of elements. A new supplement called “hanging protocol” define arrangements of elements. It has to be examined if SR or “hanging protocol” is sufficient in order to store presentation files of radiological images. Neither SR nor “hanging protocols” fulfil all requirements. Engrane was developed in order to improve the presentation and the communication of radiological images. An appropriate standard to store those presentations has to be defined. Therefore, we suppose a combination of hanging protocols and SR in order to meet technical and organizational requirements.