CPAS Troubleshooting & System Maintenance Flashcards

If DICOM images are not routing to the correct PACS destination, what configuration element should be checked first?

Answer: AE Title (Application Entity Title) configuration on sending and receiving devices

AE Titles are unique identifiers that DICOM devices use to address each other; an incorrect AE Title on either end is the most common cause of routing failures.

What does a 'C-STORE failure' error in PACS typically indicate?

Answer: The destination DICOM device rejected or failed to store the transmitted image

C-STORE is the DICOM command for transmitting and saving an image; a failure response means the destination could not accept it, often due to storage limits, connectivity, or AE Title mismatch.

When a diagnostic workstation displays images with incorrect window/level values, what is the most likely cause?

Answer: Incorrect DICOM presentation state or workstation display calibration settings

Window/level rendering issues are almost always caused by misconfigured DICOM presentation states or workstation calibration settings, not hardware or network problems.

Which log file type should a PACS administrator consult first when diagnosing failed DICOM image routing?

Answer: DICOM service and application logs on the sending or receiving system

DICOM application logs record all send/receive events, error codes, and AE Title negotiations, making them the primary diagnostic source for routing failures.

If the PACS archive reports unexpectedly low free storage, what should the administrator investigate first?

Answer: Orphaned or duplicate studies, failed deletion jobs, or runaway log file growth

Orphaned studies, failed automated deletion tasks, and unbounded log files are the most frequent causes of unexpected storage consumption in a PACS archive.

What is the most common cause of slow image retrieval at a PACS diagnostic workstation?

Answer: Network congestion or insufficient bandwidth between the workstation and PACS server

PACS image files are large, and network bottlenecks are the leading cause of slow retrieval; bandwidth limitations and congestion should be the first area investigated.