Nuclear medicine software: nothing is perfect [editorial]

Murray, Anthony W. (2014) Nuclear medicine software: nothing is perfect [editorial]. Nuclear Medicine Communications, 35 (11). pp. 1093-1095.

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Abstract

A discussion of clinical audits is sometimes perceived to be like watching paint dry. Hopefully this editorial will change some minds. Consider a hypothetical situation where a patient undergoes annual check-ups to monitor their condition using a nuclear medicine procedure. One year the procedure is performed at a different hospital, where it is found that that the result has fallen significantly. Does this really mean that their condition has deteriorated or could it be that the discrepancy is due to different methods used in the two hospitals? In reality several factors lead to discrepancies. One important factor leading to variation is the type of software used during processing. This variation is due to systematic difference in software implementation (different manufacturers, etc.) and software versions. This undesirable variation must be investigated and minimised by the nuclear medicine profession, in order to improve the quality of patient care. The role of audit in development of nuclear medicine care has been reported elsewhere [1,2].

1. Jarritt PH, Perkins AC, Woods SD, British Nuclear Medicine Society. Audit of nuclear medicine scientific and technical standards. Nucl Med Commun. 2004;25:771-775.
2. Peters AM, Bomanji J, Costa DC, Ell PJ, Gordon I, Henderson BL, et al. Clinical audit in nuclear medicine. Nucl Med Commun. 2004;25:97-103.

Item Type:	Article
Journal / Publication Title:	Nuclear Medicine Communications
Publisher:	Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins for British Nuclear Medicine Society
ISSN:	1473-5628
Departments:	Academic Departments > Medical & Sport Sciences (MSS) > Health and Medical Sciences
Additional Information:	Author: Anthony W. Murray, on behalf of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine, Nuclear Medicine Software Quality Group.
Depositing User:	Insight Administrator
Date Deposited:	03 Jul 2015 15:19
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2024 13:15
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/1666

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