OsiriX on iPad works well for emergency MRI and CT reads, study finds

iPads are just as effective as traditional workstations for radiologists reading MRI and CT scans in emergency situations, according to new research published in the Journal of Digital Imaging. Researchers from Changi General Hospital in Singapore theorized that tablet computers such as the iPad could hold lots of potential for radiologists, because they could fill the need for a lightweight, portable wireless device that would allow radiologists to review images remotely.

The iPad could provide radiologists with advantages over laptops (bulky with low-battery life) and smartphones (small screen size), according to the researchers. To test their theory, the researchers compared readings made by three radiologists on iPads to readings on traditional Picture Archival and Communication Systems (PACS) workstations – and their findings bode well for radiologists who are iPad enthusiasts.

“Our results suggest that emergency conditions commonly encountered on CT and MRI can be diagnosed using tablet computers with good agreement with dedicated PACS workstations,” the report states...The radiologists in the study used [Open Source] software from OsiriX to read the images.