Pitfalls in photographing radiological images from computer screens

We support the role of our radiologist colleagues and agree with Sutherland that these two extra points should be added to our recommendations.

However, this strategy is not always achievable, particularly after hours and where there is no rapidly accessible teleradiology system for the radiologist and the treating clinicians.

In contemporary neurosurgery practice, mobile phone images of computed tomography (CT) scans are frequently used in emergency situations to allow the neurosurgeon to immediately review the selected images and to prepare management plans formulated with the neurosurgery registrars. These plans are usually confirmed once the neurosurgeon has arrived at the hospital. Notwithstanding the fact that neurosurgeons are very experienced with the assessment of CT brain scans, the images transmitted by mobile phone in such cases typically demonstrate gross pathologies such as acute intracranial haematoma, severe hydrocephalus and cerebral mass lesions that may be readily and correctly appraised using the mobile phone. Nonetheless, there are potential pitfalls to this approach and this is the reason why we reported our case.

Our patient was in a life-threatening situation after hours, with dangerously raised intracranial pressure. An emergency CT scan was performed. Consultant radiologists were not on duty in the hospital at this time.

Due to the urgency involved in this case, the neurosurgeon made an immediate decision, in consultation with the intensivist treating the patient, to plan for surgery. This decision was reversed once the original images were viewed.