In an attempt to homogenize the way radiologists store information,
our institution has implemented a file case archive using MIRC (Medical Imaging Resource Center),
an existing free software developed by RSNA (Radiological Society of North America). Fig. 3
As we said,
numerous advantages are offered with a standard storing information system,
including teaching and research capabilities,
network accessibility,
user-friendliness and sustainability over time.
We will explain the step-by-step installation and show some of the benefits of this system.
Prerrequisites:
PC computer in a network accesible to radiologists’ workstations/PACS (to be able to send directly images from the PACS),
with fixed IP (not Dynamic ip).
Computers specs are not high,
even 10 years old computers can run it (as low as 1GHz-1Gb Ram).
Of course the more powerful,
the faster.
Enough hard disk space (100 Gb is enough at the begining).
Before installation:
Install Java 32 BITS (not the 64 bit version,
as it’s not compatible with imageIO)
https://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
Install ImageIO for java
http://download.java.net/media/jai-imageio/builds/release/1.1/
Installation
1 Go to http://mirc.rsna.org/query and in case of any doubt go to Wiki http://mircwiki.rsna.org/index.php?title=Main_Page Fig. 4
2 Download
-TFS-installer.jar-SVGView.exe
-PPT2MIRC.zip if you plan to send powerpoint presentations to MIRC3- If java is correctly installed,
run TFS-installer.jar and select installation path (eg: “C:\MIRC”).
Leave everything else as is.4- MIRC is now installed.
Go to C:\MIRC\CTP\Launcher.jar to open it.
Fig. 5 Click “Start” to run and “TFS Home Page” to enter the webpage.
-If a Windows firewall alert shows up,
click both private and public networks to allow access.
-Create a shortcut from “C:\MIRC\CTP\Runner.jar” into the desktop or to the “Startup” folder in the Startup menu to open it automatically after loading Windows.
The web browser will now open.
We can access through any web browser (eg: Chrome,
Firefox…) in http://ipofthecomputer (eg: in this case 192.168.1.114).
Now we can start next step.
CONFIGURATION
6- Log in (top right) as admin using username “admin” and password “password”.
Click ok. Fig. 6
7- On the left bar we have the cases we introduced:
-My cases: cases introduced my you (with your own account)-Completed cases: cases introduced by anyone-Draft cases: were not-completed cases are stored before you edit them.
Case approval queue is used just if you make administrator approve every case before completing it. Fig. 7
8- Click on “My Account” on the top right to change password and name of the current user.
When you finish,
click “save settings” Fig. 8
After that,
click on the left panel to configure:
a)Users (user manager)
b)Query service
c)Storage service
9- On User manager you can add users.
Eg.
Use names for doctors and residents.
Set their own password.
Make sure to set the three middle boxes (aut,
dep,
pub) for each of them (to allow them edit,
create and view cases).
Click on the topright button to save.
Fig. 9
10- On Query service,
change the name of the hospital and uncheck all “default” boxes on the enabled librarys except from your own.
Click button to save.
Fig. 10
11 – On storage service,
just change name of the database and click “save”.
Fig. 11
12 - Now,
in the main screen,
just click to “Select Libraries”,
then “Select Local” and OK.
This is to view just your own library. Fig. 12
13- Now contact your IT system/PACS administrator and ask him to set a new DICOM target on the pacs.
Give him:
-IP address: in our example case,
192.168.1.114
-Port: by default it’s 1082
-AETitle: name you want for identifying the database,
eg: casedb
14- After having configurated the database as dicom destination,
you will be able to send series to the database.
Depending on your PACS vendor,
it will be some option such as “Send to”,
“Export”,
etc.
Now select the database (Will be the same as the AETitle you set earlier) Fig. 13
15- Now you have all cases you send from the PACS in the “Draft Cases” section.
It will have name and ID number,
but don’t worry,
after editing the case it’ll be removed,
it’s just to identify the patient before edition.
16 - Click on any case to edit it.
Follow the steps to edit it.
Remember clicking the save button.
Do not edit images in this step,
first you need to save your data. Fig. 14
17- We can fill all fields,
but for easy use we recommend filling only important fields first,
such as diagnosis (Title),
Findings (radiological report),
Document (subspecialty) and keywords (to be able to search for it later). Fig. 15
17b- We can delete images or rearrange them,
as well as add captions/text,
arrows,
change window settings…
For that,
double click the image (normal or pressing also CTRL or ALT at the same time) Fig. 16
18- We can set permissions to a case,
for example if you want to keep it to yourself or to make it public (eg: for medical students attenting your department).
Fig. 17
CASE ARCHIVE FEATURES Fig. 18
- We can save several techniques in each case; and even other documents (surgical images,
other reports…)
- We can do follow up-Completely anonimized (can be set to do otherwise,
contact your IT or read the wiki)
- Can select series on the bottom-left column
- There are many tags there we can see text.
- We can scroll the same way we would do in a workstation with PACS connection.
- We can copy pictures to the clipboard or download them as DICOM images.
Other features are shown in figures Fig. 19 Fig. 20 Fig. 21 Fig. 22 Fig. 23