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Could Blockchain Technology Empower Patients, Improve Education, and Boost Research in Radiology Departments? An Open Question for Future Applications

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Abstract

Blockchain can be considered as a digital database of cryptographically validated transactions stored as blocks of data. Copies of the database are distributed on a peer-to-peer network adhering to a consensus protocol for authentication of new blocks into the chain. While confined to financial applications in the past, this technology is quickly becoming a hot topic in healthcare and scientific research. Potential applications in radiology range from upgraded monitoring of training milestones achievement for residents to improved control of clinical imaging data and easier creation of secure shared databases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples “Federico II”, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy

    Francesco Verde, Arnaldo Stanzione, Valeria Romeo, Renato Cuocolo, Simone Maurea & Arturo Brunetti

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  1. Francesco Verde
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  2. Arnaldo Stanzione
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  3. Valeria Romeo
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  4. Renato Cuocolo
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  5. Simone Maurea
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  6. Arturo Brunetti
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Correspondence to Arnaldo Stanzione.

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Verde, F., Stanzione, A., Romeo, V. et al. Could Blockchain Technology Empower Patients, Improve Education, and Boost Research in Radiology Departments? An Open Question for Future Applications. J Digit Imaging 32, 1112–1115 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10278-019-00246-8

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