Maria T. Tzalonikou MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

John Spigos BS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Socratis Gavriilidis MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Georgios Velonakis MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Irene Vraka MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Eric C. Bourekas MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

John Andreou MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Spyros D. Yarmenitis MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Dimitrios G. Spigos MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate the usefulness of tablets in the diagnosis of thoracolumbar spine fractures in a general hospital’s emergency department

Sixty-one consecutive thoracolumbar trauma cases were evaluated retrospectively. Radiographs and the corresponding diagnostic reports were retrieved from the PACS-RIS database. They included 36 cases with fractures, both acute and chronic, and 25 cases without a fracture. The images were anonymized and distributed after randomization to two attending radiologists and to two radiology residents. They used diagnostic monitors and a non-retina display iPad2 device. DICOM images were transferred to the iPad in a compressed 1263x1536 matrix.  

On the diagnostic monitors, the attendings made 104 correct and 18 incorrect diagnoses, while the residents made 99 correct and 23 incorrect diagnoses. On the iPad, the attendings made 103 correct and 19 incorrect diagnoses, while the residents made 107 correct and 15 incorrect diagnoses. In the detection of fractures, the iPad had a sensitivity 87.50%, specificity 84.00%, positive predictive value 88.73%, negative predictive value 82.35% and accuracy 86.07%. As a group, the attendings and residents made 203 correct and 41 incorrect diagnoses on the monitors and 210 correct and 34 incorrect diagnoses on the iPad. The accuracy of interpretation of attending radiologists was the same on both devices while the residents performed better on the iPad

Based on this study, tablets are as accurate in the diagnosis of thoracolumbar spinal fractures on conventional radiographs. Although the diagnostic monitors are the primary diagnostic devices in radiology departments, tablets will play an important role in the emergency department and for teleradiology purposes

Spinal fracture radiographs can be diagnosed on iPad as accurately as on diagnostic monitors

Tzalonikou, M, Spigos, J, Gavriilidis, S, Velonakis, G, Vraka, I, Bourekas, E, Andreou, J, Yarmenitis, S, Spigos, D, iPad Accuracy in the Diagnosis of Thoracolumbar Spine Fractures on Conventional Radiographs.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14009103.html