All of the major vendors in the United States introduced new systems and technologies in the past few years to reduce dose and enhance visualization in the cath lab. The vendors have tailored their systems into various models for specific specialties and at various price points depending on the degree of functionality. Most vendors also offer software to enhance visualization of stents and other devices.

Just a few short years ago, the only options for breast imaging were 2-D mammography, but thanks to rapidly advancing technology to address accuracy concerns in reading dense breast images, today there several options, including 3-D tomosynthesis.

Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) affords greater accuracy of dose distribution during cancer treatment, allowing the radiation oncologist to see how a tumor is responding over the course of treatment. This has traditionally been accomplished with computed tomography (CT) or X-ray scans, which requires extra radiation exposure for the patient, with relatively poor contrast in soft tissue due to uniform electron density. Since treatment is only as good as the images provided, efforts are under way to find a better modality — and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may hold the answer.

State-of-the-art imaging displays are a must for the healthcare arena, and today have an increasing capacity to offer large, high-resolution displays, color accuracy, calibrated brightness, advanced connectivity, optimized workflow and high contrast, just to name a few. A variety of vendors continue to improve the technology to better display imaging modalities, including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray, positron emission tomography (PET), mammography and ultrasound, and to ensure screens remain DICOM (digital imaging and communications in medicine) compliant.

The future of picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) is changing. What emerged more than 20 years ago with a bang and helped change the face of diagnostic imaging and productivity is now seeing its own changes as new technology advances. Functions that once were exclusive to PACS are shifting to different applications.