“What makes a good read?” This question was at the heart of MarkeTech’s research into the wants and needs of radiologists. A sample of 223 respondents, distributed across Europe (France, Germany, and the UK) and North America, gave some remarkable insights into the challenges faced and what imaging features might help overcome them in the future.

1. 1. What best describes your practice?
WHAT MAKES A GOOD READ ?
US & EU 2014 survey on challenges and opportunities in radiology today.
This survey has been conducted via the independent research agency The MarkeTech Group through an
online questionnaire. 223 radiologists participated in US and Europe (UK, France, Germany).
The respondents are a good mixture of radiology practices.
Screening center
Hospital
Imaging center
Independent radiology
practice
Other
77%
28%
9%
32%
4%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Screening center
Hospital
Imaging center
Independent radiology
practice
Other
11%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
US UK FR
6%
8%
0%
75%
82%
100%
52%
47%
6%
0%
0%
24%
30%
16%
38%
44%
DE
3%
8%
4%
Total

2. 2. What types of images are read at your facility?
Body
Plain film (X-ray)
Computed Tomography
(CT)
Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (MRI)
Nuclear Medicine Imaging
Ultrasound
Digital Mammography
(FFDM)
Other
91%
91%
91%
88%
68%
59%
63%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Total
14%
Body
Plain film (X-ray)
Computed Tomography
(CT)
Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (MRI)
Nuclear Medicine Imaging
Ultrasound
Digital Mammography
(FFDM)
Other
89%
80%
66%
28%
93%
76%
98%
94%
95%
98%
90%
64%
82%
93%
96%
84%
14%
98%
94%
58%
18%
88%
86%
50%
10%
86%
74%
52%
16%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
US UK FR DE
89%
24%
44%

3. 3. What are the major challenges facing your facility today?
Changes in reimbursement
Volume of image studies
Growing complexity of
image studies
Malpractice risks
New equipment and
technology
New diagnostic techniques
Training and education
Other
None of the above
74%
53%
35%
26%
52%
37%
37%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Total
8%
3%
Changes in reimbursement
Volume of image studies
Growing complexity of
image studies
Malpractice risks
New equipment and
technology
New diagnostic techniques
Training and education
Other
None of the above
90%
24%
60%
16%
73%
68%
98%
60%
52%
74%
32%
26%
56%
59%
25%
30%
7%
1%
22%
26%
42%
14%
30%
18%
44%
8%
10%
18%
38%
34%
4%
2%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
US UK FR DE
53%
18%
44%
0%

4. 4. Describe the display (monitor) configuration you currently use.
5. Are your diagnostic displays: color, grayscale or both?
Total number of displays
(monitors, diagnostic or
non-diagnostic) per
radiology workstation
Number of diagnostic
displays
Number of auxiliary
secondary displays
(monitors)
2.5
1.5
3.6
1 2 3 4 5
Total
1 2 3 4 5
Total number of displays
(monitors, diagnostic or
non-diagnostic) per
radiology workstation
Number of diagnostic
displays
Number of auxiliary
secondary displays
(monitors)
3.9
3.0
3.2
4.3
2.7
3.0
2.0
2.0
1.6
1.2
1.8
1.5
US UK FR DE
Color
Grayscale
Both color and grayscale
23%
61%
17%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Total
Color
Grayscale
Both color and grayscale
11%
16%
24%
20%
21%
8%
38%
24%
69%
46%
72%
52%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
US UK FR DE

5. 6. What are the most important aspects of a diagnostic display system that impact your reading performance?
Image quality
Image consistency
Efficient workflow
Ergonomics
Quality Assurance
Other
43%
77%
50%
1%
91%
33%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Total
Image quality
Image consistency
Efficient workflow
Ergonomics
Quality Assurance
Other
92%
90%
98%
86%
55%
22%
46%
44%
75%
74%
68%
32%
90%
51%
1%
44%
0%
64%
2%
42%
0%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
US UK FR DE
36%
30%
32%

6. 7. How likely would the following feature changes improve your reading experience?
(on a scale from 1 to 5; 1 being “not at all likely” and 5 being “extremely likely”)
Higher brightness
Higher contrast
Higher spatial resolution
Reduced screen glare
Faster image loading
Faster image
manipulations
Image uniformity
Color consistency
Wider viewing angle
3.0
3.4
3.2
3.1
2.6
4.0
2.6
4.1
2.6
Higher brightness
Higher contrast
Higher spatial resolution
Reduced screen glare
Faster image loading
Faster image
manipulations
Image uniformity
Color consistency
Wider viewing angle
2.8
2.3
2.6
2.6
3.1
3.0
2.8
3.0
3.4
3.2
3.9
4.4
4.4
4.2
3.4
2.5
2.8
3.2
3.2
3.1
3.3
2.8
4.1
3.8
3.3
2.8
2.7
4.3
3.0
2.6
2.5
3.6
3.6
2.9
2.3
2.3
1 2 3 4 5
Total
1 2 3 4 5
US UK FR DE

7. 8. How likely will each of the following features enhance your clinical practice?
(on a scale from 1 to 5; 1 being “not at all likely” and 5 being “extremely likely”)
Single screen with no
central bezel
Larger screen surface
Ability to increase bright-
ness to see more details
Color and grayscale on a
single screen
Ability to switch between
blue-base and clear-base
viewing modes
Ambient light
compensation
3.2
3.1
3.0
3.3
2.5
2.4
Single screen with no
central bezel
Larger screen surface
Ability to increase bright-
ness to see more details
Color and grayscale on a
single screen
Ability to switch between
blue-base and clear-base
viewing modes
Ambient light
compensation
2.7
2.5
2.9
2.0
3.3
3.6
3.2
2.8
3.1
3.1
3.3
2.2
2.6
3.2
3.0
3.3
2.8
3.1
2.6
2.5
3.3
3.5
2.3
3.2
1 2 3 4 5
Total
1 2 3 4 5
US UK FR DE

8. 9. Which of the following ergonomic problems have you suffered from?
Eye fatigue
Repetitive stress disorder
Neck strain
Back pain
Other
None of the above
23%
56%
52%
13%
66%
7%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Total
Eye fatigue
Repetitive stress disorder
Neck strain
Back pain
Other
None of the above
67%
66%
70%
60%
38%
24%
18%
4%
59%
48%
48%
2%
68%
59%
5%
48%
16%
48%
18%
52%
14%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
US UK FR DE
10%
8%
6%

9. 10. How important are the ergonomics of a diagnostic display system to your reading experience?
(on a scale from 1 to 5; 1 being “not at all important and 5 being “extremely important”)
11. How likely are the following ergonomic features to enhance your reading experience?
(on a scale from 1 to 5; 1 being “not at all likely” and 5 being “extremely likely”)
How important are the
ergonomics of a diagnostic
display system to your
reading experience?
3.9
How important are the
ergonomics of a diagnostic
display system to your
reading experience?
4.0
3.8
3.9
3.7
1 2 3 4 5
Total
1 2 3 4 5
US UK FR DE
Easy to adjust stand
(height and tilt)
Keyboard / task lighting
Ambient room lighting
Wide viewing angle
3.0
3.3
2.8
3.6
Easy to adjust stand
(height and tilt)
Keyboard / task lighting
Ambient room lighting
Wide viewing angle
3.7
3.7
3.7
3.1
3.4
3.2
3.1
2.3
3.4
3.5
3.5
3.0
2.8
2.9
3.0
2.5
1 2 3 4 5
Total
1 2 3 4 5
US UK FR DE

10. 12. What types of images do you read?
Mammography
Digital Breast Tomo-
synthesis
Breast Ultrasound
Core Breast Biopsy
Breast MRI
Bone Density Testing
Other
I don’t specialize in breast
imaging
58%
10%
52%
38%
26%
16%
6%
4%
55%
12%
38%
8%
36%
38%
38%
1%
37%
8%
0%
0%
86%
20%
14%
2%
56%
10%
28%
6%
44%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
US UK FR DE
51%
36%
42%
Mammography
Digital Breast Tomo-
synthesis
Breast Ultrasound
Core Breast Biopsy
Breast MRI
Bone Density Testing
Other
I don’t specialize in breast
imaging
14%
37%
21%
22%
41%
36%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Total
2%
54%
Mammography

11. Maintaining visual acuity
Reducing eye strain/
fatigue
Maintaining/increasing the
# of cases read per session
Minimize call-back rates
without missing cancers
Detection of early phase
cancers
Visualizing of calcifications
Perception of subtle
cancers
Complex multi-modality
case workup
13. What are the major challenges you experience in relation to the detection and diagnosis of breast cancer?
(mammography readers only)
Maintaining visual acuity
Reducing eye strain/
fatigue
Maintaining/increasing the
# of cases read per session
Minimize call-back rates
without missing cancers
Detection of early phase
cancers
Visualizing of calcifications
Perception of subtle
cancers
Complex multi-modality
case workup
9%
8%
12%
12%
6%
22%
5%
3%
8%
5%
10%
6%
6%
11%
10%
6%
9%
30%
3%
16%
10%
20%
9%
26%
9%
10%
8%
10%
12%
24%
14%
5%
16%
18%
9%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Total
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
US UK FR DE
20%
19%
28%
20%
10%
Mammography

12. Higher brightness
Higher contrast
Higher spatial resolution
Reduced screen glare
Faster image loading
Faster image manipula-
tions
Addition of colour
Larger screen size
Single bezel-free screen
14. If you were able to add just one new feature or capability to your mammography display system, what would it be?
(mammography readers only)
17%
35%
7%
8%
23%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Total
Higher brightness
Higher contrast
Higher spatial resolution
Reduced screen glare
Faster image loading
Faster image manipula-
tions
Addition of colour
Larger screen size
Single bezel-free screen
0%
0%
4%
5%
20%
14%
14%
18%
35%
29%
23%
29%
46%
9%
7%
0%
4%
0%
29%
0%
0%
9%
5%
0%
0%
4%
7%
4%
0%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
US UK FR DE
24%
32%
14%
1%
2%
2%
0%
0%
14%
0%
3%
Mammography

13. 15. How do you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technology in mammography?
Tradeshows & conferences
Medical Journals
Radiology Magazines
(e.g.Applied Radiology,
RAD Magazine)
Online Radiology Sites
(e.g. Auntminnie, Diagnos-
tic Imaging)
Social Media (e.g. Linkedin
Groups, Radiology Blogs)
Company Websites
Signing up to Company
News
Colleagues
58%
52%
42%
4%
62%
12%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Total
Tradeshows & conferences
Medical Journals
Radiology Magazines
(e.g.Applied Radiology,
RAD Magazine)
Online Radiology Sites
(e.g. Auntminnie, Diagnos-
tic Imaging)
Social Media (e.g. Linkedin
Groups, Radiology Blogs)
Company Websites
Signing up to Company
News
Colleagues
68%
38%
72%
68%
73%
48%
54%
50%
44%
36%
62%
12%
68%
56%
10%
4%
44%
30%
0%
0%
42%
44%
2%
2%
46%
30%
4%
4%
46%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
US UK FR DE
15%
12%
6%
3%
44%
Mammography