In which PACS architecture is the archive the central repository for all images?

• A. Client/server
• B. Peer-to-peer
• C. Standalone
• D. Cloud-based

Answer: (A)

The key idea is central storage and standardized access: in a client/server PACS, all images are stored on a central archive server and workstations, modalities, and other clients query and retrieve studies from that server. This setup makes the archive the single repository for the entire imaging collection, with the server coordinating storage, indexing, and access control.

In contrast, a peer-to-peer arrangement spreads data across multiple devices with no single central store, so no one archive acts as the universal repository. A standalone system operates on a single machine without networked sharing, so there isn’t a shared central archive. Cloud-based storage involves remote storage, but the fundamental architecture described as client/server emphasizes the central archive on a server within the local or enterprise network, serving as the fixed repository and access point.