Quality Assurance · Data Integrity · DICOM Compliance

Our Validation Methodology

Archive Exporter includes comprehensive validation at every stage of the Pinnacle TAR to DICOM conversion process. Each release is benchmarked on more than 200 patient cases, and we have already successfully exported more than 40,000 patients.

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Methodology Overview

Why Validation Matters for Pinnacle Migration

The Challenge

Pinnacle TAR archives contain complex, interrelated radiotherapy data that must be preserved with absolute accuracy during conversion to DICOM:

  • Clinical data integrity - Every patient parameter, contour, and dose value must be preserved
  • DICOM compliance - Output must conform to DICOM PS3.3 RT object standards
  • Spatial accuracy - Geometric relationships between CT, structures, and plans must be maintained
  • Referential integrity - DICOM references between related objects must be correct
  • Completeness - All requested data must be converted without omission

Manual verification of these aspects for a typical Pinnacle database would be time-consuming and prone to human error. Archive Exporter's automated validation methodology addresses this challenge.

Our Approach

Archive Exporter implements a multi-layered validation approach that combines:

  1. Automated integrity checks - Fast, comprehensive validation of all input data before conversion
  2. Sample-based verification - Client review of representative converted data to confirm quality
  3. Cross-reference validation - Verification of relationships between all converted objects
  4. DICOM compliance validation - Automated checks against DICOM standard requirements
  5. Detailed error reporting - Comprehensive documentation of any issues and their resolution

This approach ensures that every byte of clinical data is preserved and correctly represented in the DICOM output, while providing transparency and confidence.

Proven Track Record

Before each release, Archive Exporter is thoroughly benchmarked on more than 200 patient cases to verify accuracy and stability.

To date, we have successfully exported more than 40,000 patients across various Pinnacle versions, with consistent data integrity and DICOM compliance.

Validation Process

Our 5-Step Validation Methodology

Archive Exporter's validation is integrated throughout the entire conversion workflow, with specific checkpoints at each stage.

01

Automated Input Validation

Every Pinnacle TAR archive is scanned for structural integrity, completeness, and format compliance before conversion begins.

Checks performed:

  • Archive file integrity verification
  • Required Pinnacle data files present
  • Patient identifier uniqueness
  • Temporal consistency of data
  • File size and format validation
02

Sample Batch Conversion

Representative subset of archives is converted and provided to client for verification of output quality and DICOM compliance.

Sample selection:

  • Representative patients across different time periods
  • Various treatment sites and plan complexities
  • Different Pinnacle versions (if applicable)
  • Edge cases and potential problem records
03

Cross-Reference Validation

Automated verification that all relationships between patients, plans, structures, doses, and CT images are correctly maintained in DICOM output.

Validated relationships:

  • RT Struct references to CT Image
  • RT Plan references to RT Struct and CT Image
  • RT Dose references to RT Plan, RT Struct, and CT Image
  • Patient identifier consistency across all objects
  • Temporal consistency of referenced objects
04

DICOM Compliance Validation

Every exported DICOM object is validated against DICOM PS3.3 RT object standards for format compliance and data integrity.

DICOM compliance checks:

  • Valid DICOM file structure and preamble
  • Correct SOP Class UID for each object type
  • Required DICOM attributes present
  • Valid data types and value representations
  • Proper sequence organization and nesting
05

Clinical Data Validation

Verification that clinical parameters have been correctly preserved from Pinnacle format to DICOM format.

Clinical parameter checks:

  • Patient identifiers and demographics
  • Structure names, ROI numbers, and contours
  • Plan beam parameters, energies, and MU values
  • Dose grid data, normalization, and units
  • CT image geometry, pixel spacing, and orientation
Quality Assurance

Comprehensive Quality Checks

Archive Exporter performs automated quality checks on every conversion to ensure data accuracy and DICOM compliance.

Data Integrity Checks

The following table shows the key data integrity checks performed on every Pinnacle archive:

Check CategoryDescriptionAutomated
Archive IntegrityTAR file structure validationYes
Patient DataPatient identifier validationYes
Temporal ConsistencyDate/time logical orderingYes
File CompletenessAll required files presentYes
Format CompatibilityPinnacle version support (v6 to latest)Yes
DICOM Compliance Checks

Every exported DICOM object undergoes comprehensive compliance validation:

DICOM ObjectChecks PerformedAutomated
RT StructStructure set label, ROI numbers, contour data, referenced CTYes
RT PlanPlan label, beam parameters, dose prescription, referenced objectsYes
RT DoseDose grid, normalization, units, referenced plan/struct/CTYes
CT ImagePixel data, image position, slice thickness, window levelYes
Sample Verification

Sample-Based Validation Process

Before full database conversion, Archive Exporter performs a sample-based validation to ensure the conversion meets your specific requirements.

Why Sample-Based Validation?

Sample-based validation provides several important benefits:

  1. Early issue detection - Identify and resolve any conversion issues before processing all data
  2. Client confidence - Allow you to verify output quality with your own clinical expertise
  3. Customization opportunity - Adjust conversion parameters based on your specific needs
  4. Risk mitigation - Minimize the risk of discovering problems after full conversion
  5. Validation of expectations - Confirm that output format and structure meet your requirements
Sample Process

The sample-based validation process typically includes:

Step 1: Sample Selection - Archive Exporter selects representative sample - Includes various treatment sites, complexities, and time periods Step 2: Sample Conversion - Convert selected sample using production parameters - Generate all DICOM RT objects (RTStruct, RTPlan, RTDose, CT) Step 3: Automated Validation - Run all integrity checks on sample data - Generate preliminary validation report Step 4: Client Review - Client receives sample DICOM files - Client verifies using their preferred DICOM viewer - Client provides feedback on output quality Step 5: Issue Resolution - Archive Exporter addresses any identified issues - Adjust conversion parameters if needed - Re-run sample conversion for verification
Client Review Guidelines

We recommend clients verify the following aspects of the sample conversion:

  • Patient identifiers - Verify all patient IDs, names, and demographics are correct
  • Structure sets - Check that all structures are present with correct names and contours
  • Treatment plans - Verify beam parameters, dose prescriptions, and plan names
  • Dose distributions - Confirm dose values and distributions match expectations
  • CT images - Check image quality, geometry, and window/level settings
  • DICOM compliance - Verify files can be opened in your DICOM viewer
  • Folder structure - Confirm organization meets your expectations

Most clients use their existing TPS or PACS DICOM viewer for this review.

Documentation

Detailed Export Report

Every Archive Exporter conversion includes a comprehensive report documenting all aspects of the migration process.

Report Contents

The export report includes the following sections:

  1. Executive Summary
    • Total number of patients processed
    • Total number of plans, structures, CT series, and dose distributions
    • Conversion start and end dates
    • Overall success rate
  2. Patient-by-Patient Summary
    • List of all converted patients with identifiers
    • Number of objects per patient (CT series, structures, plans, doses)
    • Conversion status for each patient (success/warning/error)
  3. Detailed Conversion Log
    • Complete list of all converted files
    • Input TAR archive filename and path
    • Output DICOM filename and path
    • Conversion timestamp for each file
  4. Validation Results
    • Results of all automated integrity checks
    • Results of DICOM compliance validation
    • Results of clinical parameter validation
    • Summary of cross-reference validation
Sample Report Excerpt
ARCHIVE EXPORTER - CONVERSION REPORT ==================================== Project: Radiotherapy Department Migration Date: [Current Date] Pinnacle Version: [Detected Version] Conversion Parameters: Standard RT Object Export EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ---------------- Total Patients: [Number] Total CT Series: [Number] Total RT Structs: [Number] Total RT Plans: [Number] Total RT Doses: [Number] Conversion Success Rate: [X]% Conversion Duration: [X] days Output Volume: [X] GB Storage Reduction: ~50% PATIENT SUMMARY --------------- [Patient list with individual status] VALIDATION RESULTS ----------------- Integrity Checks: PASSED DICOM Compliance: PASSED Clinical Parameters: PASSED Cross-References: PASSED WARNINGS: [Number] (all resolved) ERRORS: [Number] (resolved)
Report Formats

The export report is provided in multiple formats for your convenience:

  • PDF Document - Print-ready comprehensive report with visual formatting
  • Excel Spreadsheet - Machine-readable data for analysis and integration
  • CSV Files - Individual CSV files for patients, plans, structures, etc.

The PDF report is ideal for documentation and archival purposes.

Warranty

Our Quality Guarantee

Archive Exporter stands behind the quality of our conversions with a comprehensive warranty.

1-Month Warranty

Every Archive Exporter conversion includes a 1-month warranty that covers:

  • Conversion errors - Any errors in the conversion process discovered within 30 days
  • Data accuracy issues - Any discrepancies in clinical data identified within 30 days
  • DICOM compliance issues - Any DICOM standard violations discovered within 30 days
  • Missing data - Any requested data not included in the export

During the warranty period, Archive Exporter will promptly address any identified issues at no additional charge.

Warranty Process

To report an issue under warranty:

  1. Identify the issue - Document the specific problem with the converted data
  2. Contact Archive Exporter - Report the issue via email within 30 days of delivery
  3. Provide details - Share specific information about the affected data and nature of the issue
  4. Archive Exporter investigates - We analyze the issue and confirm it falls under warranty
  5. Issue resolution - We address the issue and provide corrected data typically within 2-5 business days
Confident in Our Validation

Ready to Migrate with Confidence?

Archive Exporter's comprehensive validation methodology ensures that your Pinnacle TAR to DICOM conversion is accurate, complete, and compliant. Each release is benchmarked on more than 200 patient cases, with over 40,000 patients successfully exported to date.

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