Materials and methods:
A search was performed on iTunes,
Android Market,
Blackberry App World,
and Windows Phone Marketplace for mobile applications pertinent to the field of diagnostic imaging (Fig 2).
The following terms were applied for the search strategy: (1) radiology (2) x-ray (3) ultrasound (4) mri (5) ct (6) radiographer (7) nuclear medicine.
Two radiologist and one radiology resident reviewed the results.
Our review was limited to English-language applications.
Additional applications were idenfied by reviewing the list of similar software provided in the description of each application.
We downloaded and installed all applications that appeared relevant to a second generation iPod Touch media player,
a first generation iPad tablet computer,
a Blackberry Curve 9300 mobile phone and a Samsung Galaxy S mobile phone.
Results:
We identified and reviewed a total of 98 applications.
We ruled out 1 non-English application and 20 other pplications that were created for entertainment purposes.
Thus our final list includes 77 applications in the following five categories: diagnostic reading and decision support applications,
medical books and interactive encyclopedias,
and journal reading programs.
1.
Diagnostic reading applications:
Name of application |
Platform |
1.
Mobile MIM |
iOS |
2.
Film Mobile |
iOS |
3.
OsiriX |
iOS |
4.
iClarity |
iOS |
5.
ResolutionMD |
iOS |
6.
CoActiv |
iOS |
7.
ImageVis3D |
iOS |
8.
Siemens SyngoVia WebViewer |
iOS
|
9.
Centricity Radiology Mobile |
iOS |
10.
DICOM Droid |
Android |
Table 1.
Diagnostic Reading Applications
Smartphones and tablets can be an optimal and cost-effective extension of workstations. Diagnostic reading applications available for smart phones and tablets support raw data,
and they also allow for basic manipulation of the images such as zooming,
windowing,
rotation,
distance measurement,
and changing the contrast and brightness (Fig 3.).
Their main disadvantage is that it can be difficult to perform measurements on the small screen using fingers,
and to display the image data of the present and previous scans side-by-side.
Security issues also need to be addressed regarding these applications.
2.
Medical books as applications.
Name of application |
Platform |
1.
Atlas of Emergency Medicine |
iOS
|
2.
Atlas of Emergency Medicine |
iOS |
3.
Pocket Atlas of Emergency Ultrasound |
iOS |
4.
HD Radiology |
iOS |
5.
Radiology Ray X |
iOS
|
6.
The Handbook of Fractures |
iOS/Android/Blackberry/Windows Phone |
7-9.
MRI in Practive Vol 01,
02,
04 |
iOS |
10.
NeuroRad Mini |
iOS |
11.
Emergency Ultrasound of Eye |
iOS/Android |
12.
Radiology Review Manual |
Android |
Table 2.
Medical books as applications.
Some medical books are available as applications; these are not just a scanned,
typed or pdf.
versions of real textbooks,
but fully functioning applications in their own right (Fig.
4.).
They are superior to e-books in that the displayed content is fully optimized for the screen of the device; they feature a search engine,
and they may contain simple animations or embedded videos as well.
So far there are only a few of these book applications,
and those are listed in Table 2.
3.
Interactive encyclopedias.
Name of application |
Platform |
1.
Radiology 2.0: One night in the ED |
iOS |
2.
iRadiology |
iOS |
3.
Radiology Assistant - Medical Imaging Reference & Education |
iOS |
4.
SonoAccess |
iOS |
5-10.
Radiopedia Vol 1-6. |
iOS |
11.
iAnatomy |
iOS |
12.
Joslin Chest Atlas |
iOS |
13.
Xrays and body scans |
iOS |
14.
Surgical Radiology |
iOS |
15.
BlueRadiology |
iOS |
16.
GreenRadiology |
iOS |
17.
Ultrasound Protocols and Image Reference Handbook |
iOS |
18.
CTisus Quiz |
iOS |
19.
Radiology Terminology |
iOS |
20.
RadQuikQuiz |
iOS |
21.
RadTapTap |
iOS |
22.
Interactive CT and MRI anatomy |
iOS |
23.
Xrays4Medics |
iOS |
24.
iSonographer R/O DVT |
iOS |
25.
PocketRads |
iOS |
26.
Xray Instrumentation |
iOS |
27.
Emergency Medicine Ultrasound |
iOS |
28.
Ultrasound Physics Mock Exam |
iOS |
29.
X-ray Study |
iOS |
30.
Xrays |
iOS |
31.
Emergency Radiology |
Android |
32.
Radiology for Medical Students |
Android |
Table 3.
Interactive encyclopedias.
Interactive encyclopedias are more versatile than e-books,
and they might be a valuable tool for many learners.
These interactive encyclopedias may open a new dimension in studying by providing the experience of diagnostic reading for those who wish to master it.
Since the user does not only read a text passively,
but scans through the axial slices of a CT scan,
for example,
studying becomes more efficient and new practical skills may be gained (Fig.
5-6.).
4.
Decision support applications.
Name of application |
Platform |
1.
eRoentgen Radiology DX |
iOS |
2.
Radiation Passport |
iOS |
3.
iCat-Xray |
iOS |
4.
iCat-MRI |
iOS |
5.
iCat Scan Pro |
iOS |
6.
Radiology ToolBox |
iOS |
7.
Virtual Radiographer |
iOS/Android |
8.
RadX Mobile |
iOS |
9.
iRADTECH |
iOS/Android |
10.
RadTools |
iOS |
11.
Nuclear Medicine Calculator |
iOS |
12.
NucRx |
iOS |
13.
Radiographic Calculator |
iOS |
14.
Radiographic Room Handbook & Charts |
iOS |
15.
Radiographic Technique Charts |
iOS |
16.
Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for Cardiac Radionuclide Imaging |
Blackberry |
Table 4.
Decision support applications.
With the help of decision support applications clinicians,
radiologists and technicians may choose the most appropriate protocolls based on the lead diagnosis,
thus ensuring that the rules of ALARA (as low as reasonably attainable) are kept.
Tools for calculating the GFR value or the amount of contrast agent needed prior to examinations are also included in these applications (Fig.
7.).
5.
Journal access applications.
Name of application |
Platform |
1.
European Radiology |
iOS |
2.
RSNA Radiology |
iOS |
3.
RSNA Radiographics |
iOS |
4.
AJNR |
iOS |
5.
Molecular Imaging Insight |
iOS |
6.
PubMed Mobile |
Android |
7.
Medline Journal Search |
Android |
Table 5.
Journal reading applications.
The major radiology journals such as European Radiology,
Radiographics and Radiology have released their own applications for iOS devices.
With these one can access the latest and even previous editions of the journal in a special layout that has been optimized for the screen of the mobile device (Fig.
8).
Since content is optimized,
images and text are scaled just the right size,
and loading times are minimized.
All users can access the abstracts of publications,
while those with subscriptions can read the full pdf.
versions of the papers on the go.