"This might be particularly pertinent in the very early stages of viewing, as it has been shown that radiologists' visual search is influenced by their first global impression of an image," she tells DOTmed News.

Nonetheless, Toomey cautions that this idea is only a suggestion: so far, reports on image size in the literature have had mixed results, and more evidence is needed before most scientists would accept it as an explanation.


FUTURE STUDIES

Toomey hopes to continue the research on handheld devices and see if the findings apply to other diagnostic imaging exams.

She also wants to see how the products measure up when image processing bells and whistles are turned on. In the study, the researchers deactivated image manipulation features on the monitors, and pictures were viewed on the handheld devices' standard picture viewing software.

The study was also carried out before sophisticated medical imaging software became available for some portable systems.

"Some major developments have occurred in radiological image viewing on handheld devices since we collected our data," Toomey notes. "For example, Osirix is now available as an iPhone application, and permits a wide range of image processing."


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