Arpad Bischof MD, Presenter: Employee, IMAGE Information Systems Ltd

Martin Simon MD, Abstract Co-Author: Research grant, IMAGE Information Systems Ltd, Rostock, Germany

Mike Thomas Jensen MD, Abstract Co-Author: Employee, IMAGE Information Systems Ltd

Joerg Barkhausen MD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Consultant, Bayer AG

Shuji Yamamoto PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Users implementing a PACS often do not know how many studies, images or storage volume do they will have to manage. Numbers, e.g. of images per study or the resolution may vary significantly among several imaging centers.

We demonstrate a web based tool to help users or PACS implementers to calculate the necessary storage volumes. The tool is written in php code and may be accessedd via any Internet browser. Users may enter e.g. the type of imaging center and the number of studies. The tool calculates storage volumes based on empiric data and gives an estimated and expected range.

The study size and volume varies significantly per region, e.g. USA vs South America, per organisation, e.g. university hospital vs private imaging center, per modality, e.g. CT vs CR, per body part, e.g. heart vs extremities and device type (e.g. 128 slice CT vs 16 slice CT scanner). The developed algorithm presents estimations derived from a combination of the above criteria based on empiric data acquired from 57 sites.

A PACS implementation without proper volume and traffic planning may cause dramatically increasing costs or failure of the whole system. The PACS sizing calculator is available for free and gives PACS implementers an important tool to estimate needed storage volumes or data transmission ressources.

Bischof, A, Simon, M, Jensen, M, Barkhausen, J, Yamamoto, S, PACS Sizing Calculator.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9009091.html