Glossary

Appointment date

The date the volunteer was examined. This date is recorded in the DICOM headers of all images taken of the volunteer during a given examination

DICOM File

File containing data that conforms with the DICOM image specification; i.e. a header and an array of image data

DICOM Header

Header part of a DICOM image contains information about the image such as the date it was created, the name of the patient, etc.

DICOM Ref

Globally unique identifier for an image as contained in the DICOM header - see also Short DICOM Ref.

Disk Ref

Unique label associated with a disk whose images have been imported into the Image database. This reference number is written on the disks that form the UKCTOCS CD-ROM archive.

Examination

Volunteers are examined at their regional centre each year on a given appointment day. During this examination transvaginal ultrasound scans are performed and a number of images recorded as DICOM files. These images are subsequently sent to Maple House where they are imported into the Image database.

Maple House

The coordinating centre of the UKCTOCS Trial in London.

MO Disk

Magneto-Optical disks are used to transfer images from the Ultrasound machines in the regional centres to Maple House where they are copied onto CD-ROM. After the MO is copied it is returned to the regional centre for reuse.

Patient

Volunteer in the trial

Regional Centre

A UK hospital where Volunteer examinations are performed.

Short DICOM Refs

Truncated version of DICOM Ref

Sonographer

Job title of the person who performs the examination on the Volunteer with the Ultrasound machine.

UKCTOCS CD-ROM Archive

Collection of CD-ROM disks which are copies of the MO disks sent from the regional centres containing the Images recorded during Volunteer examinations.

UKCTOCS System

The computer system that manages the UKCTOCS trial. The responsibilities of this system include generating the appointments and recording the results of examinations. It is comprised of the Patient database and the various applications which access it.

UKCTOCS Trial

The UK Collaborative Trial for Ovarian Cancer Screening. More information about the trial is given in the UKCTOCS website

Volunteer

Someone participating in the trial. The name of the volunteer is recorded in the DICOM header when the ultrasound scan is made, but is masked before it is imported into the Image database to ensure confidentiality.

Volunteer Ref

Identifier for a volunteer in the trial. This is used instead of a name to ensure confidentiality and is recorded in the DICOM header of all images.