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What is RadLex?
As images, imaging reports, and medical records move online, radiologists need a unified language to organize and retrieve them. Radiologists currently use a variety of terminologies and standards, but no single lexicon serves all of their needs. RSNA RadLex is a single unified source of radiology terms that is designed to fill this need.
Beginning in 2005, RSNA convened experts in imaging informatics and radiological subspecialties to create this resource, which is now made freely available to the healthcare community. RadLex has developed into a rich, structured radiology-specific ontology, which currently includes more than 30,000 terms.
RSNA has developed a term browser (http://radlex.org) to give potential users a convenient way to view RadLex's structure and content. RadLex is available for download via the National Centers for Biomedical Computing’s Bioportal: http://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/40885. Read more >
How is it used?
RadLex enables numerous improvements in the clinical practice of radiology, starting with the ordering of imaging exams, through the use of information in the resulting radiology report. It also makes possible more effective reuse of information for research and educational purposes. Some specific uses of RadLex terminology include:
- Automatic order entry decision support
- Vendor independent "protocoling" of complex imaging exams
- Reliable PACS display layouts
- No need to re-dictate lengthy imaging technique sequences
- Improved speech recognition accuracy
- Speech-enabled structured reporting to satisfy regulatory requirements
- Real-time decision support for the radiologist
- Rapid teaching file creation
- Accurate report search and data mining
RadLex is being adopted by users and developers of imaging-related HIT systems and other applications that can benefit from radiology-specific coded terminology. Some early applications include radiology decision support and reporting tools and search applications for radiology research and eduction. Reporting templates developed by the RSNA Reporting Committee use RadLex terms in their content. Reports using RadLex terms are clearer and more consistent, removing potential for error and confusion. Clinical trials investigators can use RadLex terms to "tag", index, search and analyze radiology-related medical data. Developers of educational tools can likewise use RadLex to organize their materials and make their contents more definitive. Read more >
Who is involved?
The RadLex project is led by a steering committee of experts in radiology informatics and medical terminologies and overseen by the RSNA Radiology Informatics Committee. In 2005, six RadLex organ system committees were formed in collaboration with more than 30 radiology professional and standards organizations, including ACR, DICOM, and IHE. In 2007, six additional committees were recruited, each focusing on a specific imaging modality. These modality committees have defined terms to describe the devices, imaging exams, and procedure steps performed in radiology, an effort called the RadLex Playbook. These committees support the steering committee in ongoing development and curation of RadLex. Read more >
How do I get involved?
RadLex is freely available for download and use in clinical, research and educational applications. Radiologists and developers of radiology reporting systems can incorporate RadLex terms into their diagnostic reports by adopting the RSNA reporting templates available here.
Experts in radiology and medical informatics are invited to participate in the development and curation of RadLex. Comments on RadLex can be submitted to radlexfeedback@rsna.org. To express interest in volunteering for the RadLex committees, contact ric@rsna.org.
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