[1] Describe a solution to streamline teaching case collection.
[2] Demonstrate how to develop a computer interface between PDA and PACS.
[3] List of common software that can be used for PDA DICOM communications.

Keeping track of teaching cases is a time consuming task for radiologists. During read out, radiologists need to have an easy solution for the collection of interesting cases – study information, related reports and images. With the advances in computer technology and digital image access from PACS, we developed an automated system by interfacing PDA devices to PACS with DICOM protocol using common software. With this system, radiologists collect cases by simply entering accession numbers into their PDA. The entered information is transferred to a standalone PC-based computer via either wireless connection or desktop Hotsync®. An automated DICOM query/retrieve utility is then executed at the PC to fetch data from PACS (i.e., patient demographics, study information, RIS report and key images). These cases are then sent to the individual’s or the departmental teaching file for easy review.