Large picture archiving and communication systems of the world--Part 1.

This is the report of a worldwide survey of 82 institutions done to identify large scale picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) in clinical operation in 1995. This survey found a continuing strong trend toward the creation and operation of large PACS. In the 15 months since the first such survey, the number of clinical large PACS went from 13 to 23, almost a doubling in that short interval. New systems were added in Asia, Europe, and North America. A strong move to primary interpretation from soft copy was identified, and filmless radiology has become a reality.