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. 2006 Dec;19(4):295-306.
doi: 10.1007/s10278-006-0631-7.

Benefits of the DICOM structured report

Rita Noumeir  1
Affiliations

Benefits of the DICOM structured report

Rita Noumeir. J Digit Imaging. 2006 Dec.

Abstract

Recently, the digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) standard introduced rules for the encoding, transmission, and storage of the imaging diagnostic report. This medical document can be stored and communicated with the images in picture archiving and communication system (PACS). It is a structured document that contains text with links to other data such as images, waveforms, and spatial or temporal coordinates. Its structure, along with its wide use of coded information, enables the semantic understanding of the data that is essential for the Electronic Healthcare Record deployment. In this article, we present DICOM Structured Report (SR) and discuss its benefits. We show how SR enables efficient radiology workflow, improves patient care, optimizes reimbursement, and enhances the radiology ergonomic working conditions. As structured input significantly alters the interpretation process, understanding all its benefits is necessary to support the change.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
An information element has a name and a value.
Fig 2
Fig 2
The name is defined by a code.
Fig 3
Fig 3
Example of a breast imaging report in prose.
Fig 4
Fig 4
A simple SR structure that encodes the report content of Figure 3. Words in bold represent the content name whereas the content is represented in regular font.
Fig 5
Fig 5
Report structure with different performers associated with different sections.
Fig 6
Fig 6
Report narrative subtree and a supplementary data subtree.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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MeSH terms