Preprocessing functions for computed radiography images in a PACS environment

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Abstract
In a picture archiving and communications system (PACS), images are acquired from several modalities including computed radiography (CR). This modality has unique image characteristics and presents several problems that need to be resolved before the image is available for viewing at a display workstation. A set of preprocessing functions have been applied to all CR images in a PACS environment to enhance the display of images. The first function reformats CR images that are acquired with different plate sizes to a standard size for display. Another function removes the distracting white background caused by the collimation used at the time of exposure. A third function determines the orientation of each image and rotates those images that are in nonstandard positions into a standard viewing position. Another function creates a default look-up table based on the gray levels actually used by the image (instead of allocated gray levels). Finally, there is a function which creates (for chest images only) the piece-wise linear look-up tables that can be applied to enhance different tissue densities. These functions have all been implemented in a PACS environment. Each of these functions have been very successful in improving the viewing conditions of CR images and contribute to the clinical acceptance of PACS by reducing the effort required to display CR images.

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