Current Insights on Multimedia Radiology Reports

Looking at a year’s worth of diagnostic radiology reports (382,508), researchers at the University of Virginia saw increasing adoption of hyperlinked multimedia reporting among multiple subspecialties five years after initial implementation of the reporting technology (Vue Reporting, Philips), according to findings presented at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) conference.

Abdominal radiologists used hyperlinks in 75 percent of computed tomography (CT) reporting and 59 percent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reporting, according to the research. The study showed hyperlinks were utilized in 78 percent of radiology reporting for chest MRIs and 60 percent of CT chest reports. Pediatric radiologists employed hyperlinked reports for 56 percent of their CT reports and 51 percent of MRI reports.

In a video interview from the RSNA conference, study co-author Wayne Dell, M.D., said hyperlinked multimedia radiology reports not only provide enhanced clarity for patients, they contribute to increased efficiencies for referring clinicians and radiologists as well.

“The hyperlinks help navigate sometimes hundreds or even a thousand images on an MRI with a click of a button,” pointed out Dr. Dell, a second-year resident in diagnostic radiology at the University of Virginia. “That is just a lot of time saved both for the referring clinician …, who may not have very much experience at all with reading a MRI scan, and with the radiologist down the line. When they read the new study and compare it to an old report, they don’t have to spend several seconds sifting through to find the pertinent findings. They can just click.”

(Editor’s note: For related content, see “Reinventing Radiology Reports in the Age of Value-Based Care,” “Emerging Insights on Improving Radiology Workflows” and “Emerging Concepts and Perspectives in Radiology: Video Interviews from RSNA 2022.”)

For more insights from Dr. Dell, watch the video below.