While anatomy is often studied using color drawings, 3D animation, and with the help of cadavers, the way it’s usually seen by radiologists is in slices and visual reconstructions from different imaging modalities. Understanding what is seen in radiological images takes a lot of rote learning and clinical experience. A new website called Imaging Anatomy allows users to navigate through actual imaging scans in a format very much like that used by radiologists. The system replicates a generic PACS system and includes markers for important locations within most images, helping one study the relevant anatomy. We got a chance to speak with Jens Borgbjerg, the founder of Imaging Anatomy, and ask him about the site, its founding, and what his plans are for its future.
Medgadget: How long have you been working on this?
Jens Borgbjerg: ImagingAnatomy.com was conceived as a spin off from another project; six month ago, as part of my radiology residency. I was developing a web module for a research project that would allow a large number of observers to participate in an interobserver study on the variability of ultrasound assessment of maximum diameter of the abdominal aorta. I had also just begun experimenting with 3D rendering of CT scans which provide great illustrative models of human anatomy. I used to teach gross anatomy – which many find to be a hard and tedious subject – as an undergrad medical student and went with the idea that that by studying imaging of normal human anatomy one could potentially make the acquiring of anatomical knowledge a little bit more interesting and clinically relevant. Easy access to a multi-platform based imaging atlas could probably be of help in this regard and thus of good use. Using some of the techniqes (PHP, mySQL, HTML5 canvas and Javascript) learned from programming the interobserver study module, it took me around two months to develop a functional version of ImagingAnatomy. Since then I have been adding minor new features, removing bugs, adding new imaging studies. Time however is an issue since ImagingAnatomy is essentially a one man project and I have only a certain amount of time to spend on the project when I do have time off from the rigors of radiology residency.
Medgadget: Did you just make this tool available?
Jens Borgbjerg: It was made available at ImagingAnatomy.com at the end of May this year; the same time as I went to the EUROSON 2014 congress (http://www.euroson2014.org/) to present the ultrasound abdominal aorta module (in collaboration with my colleague Dr. Adnan Madzak) from ImagingAnatomy as an abstract. Since then I have been writing to a few people to build interest in the atlas and get the word out about it.
Medgadget: What features make it special?
Jens Borgbjerg: I would say…
Obviously there already exist a number of good interactive atlases dealing with imaging anatomy.
What makes Imaging Anatomy stand out is the fact that it is not a native application requiring a specific platform to run. Imaging Anatomy is web based and thus uses cloud resources and may be accessed with any platform because it runs through a modern web browser making, it available for desktop PC as well as Android and iPad/iPhone. Anatomy modules can be added, edited, deleted etc. with the changes being immediately available to users.
Another feature I want to highlight is Imaging Aantomy’s simulation of a PACS interface and having a highly customizable user interface with the option to save settings locally even though it is a web based atlas.
Other nifty features are the Wikipedia integration and integration of cross sectional scans with 3D virtual rendering as well as reference lines.
I would also like to highlight the fact that Imaging Anatomy is currently a one-man team. Although this has its negatives it does however mean that if users have suggestions for improvement then I don’t need to go through a lengthy approval phase with a large project team involving both communication and coordination overhead before adding a new feature.
Medgadget: What features do you expect to add to improve it?
Jens Borgbjerg: I will add a number of new features. Here is a selection of a number of items from the to-do list (not prioritized):
— Anatomical landmark search function that will take the user directly to the relevant imaging slice.
— Multi language support (especially Latin nomenclature).
— New save settings feature that allows users to save the position and size of the displayed views of the modules of Imaging Anatomy.
— Poll on which new module (anatomical region and modality) the users would like to see added to Imaging Anatomy.
— Youtube instruction video.
— A low bandwidth option for users with slow internet connections.
— A module to train for the First FRCR (The Royal College of Radiologists) speciality examination (Anatomy Module) (https://www.rcr.ac.uk/content.aspx?PageID=2234)
— I might also consider adding a case based module where users can upload their own clinical cases.
— Finally I would like to stress that I remain very much open to suggestions so it doesn’t have to take long to add another feature to my to-do list.
Medgadget: Can people add their own scans to the database?
Jens Borgbjerg: Yes. Although not currently advertised on ImagingAnatomy.com, the functionality is in place for motivated and qualified people to submit anonymised imaging studies in DICOM format as well as JPEGs. Subsequently the submitter will recieve a username and password for access to a simple content management system that will allow for easy editing and addition of landmarks to the anatomy module in question. Thus Imaging Anatomy is easily expandable since addition/editing of landmarks only requires a web browser.
Medgadget: Who do you expect to use this tool?
Jens Borgbjerg: Obviously health professionals working within the field of radiology. Medical students. MDs working within the clinical specialities since it is a fact that today on a daily basis almost all MDs must deal with and have a basic understanding of imaging studies.
I also hope that there will be people interested in contributing to the continual development and expansion of the atlas. Those who are interested and would like to hear more can contact me here.”
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to tell the readers of Medgadget a little about Imaging Anatomy.
Link: Imaging Anatomy…
