Radiology reporting: returning to our image-centric roots.

Publication/Presentation Date

11-1-2006

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Despite extraordinary advances in imaging and information technologies, the form and content of radiology reporting has changed little in the discipline's more than 100-year history. In this commentary, we outline the challenges that have confronted innovations such as speech recognition and structured reporting and call for a radical rethinking of the reporting process. By combining new applications with the expanding power of radiology and hospital information systems, the attention of the radiologist--and his or her referring colleagues--could be more focused on the image and its meaning.

CONCLUSION: One promising result of such a change in focus could be improved and more reliable communication, already an area of heightened concern in the imaging community. Moreover, such a shift away from the printed word to image-centered content could lead to benefits in shared image viewing; more streamlined and timely reporting; data mining of aggregate results; and image archives, and, ultimately, enhancement of the consultative value of the radiologist's contribution to patient care and treatment.

Volume

187

Issue

5

First Page

1151

Last Page

1155

ISSN

1546-3141

Disciplines

Diagnosis | Medicine and Health Sciences | Other Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment | Radiology

PubMedID

17056898

Department(s)

Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Medical Imaging

Document Type

Article

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