Cross Reference Linking

Cross-Reference Linking Skill

Triggers

• "compare to priors"
• "find prior studies"
• "correlate with"
• "longitudinal comparison"
• "followup from"
• "related findings"
• "pathology correlation"

Parameters

• reference_type (required): Type of cross-reference needed
  • prior_studies - Historical imaging comparison
  • literature - Relevant published cases or studies
  • followup - Sequential study comparison
  • multimodality - Different modality correlation
  • pathology - Radiology-pathology correlation
  • clinical - EHR/clinical data correlation
• finding_summary (required): Current finding to cross-reference
• patient_id (optional): Patient identifier for prior search
• date_range (optional): Time window for prior search

Cross-Reference Types

Prior Study Comparison

• Modality, date, and key findings of historical studies
• Size/dimension comparisons for measurable findings
• Density/signal intensity comparisons
• Change assessment (stable, improved, progressed)

Literature Correlation

• Similar published cases
• Expected imaging appearances
• Atypical presentations
• Prognostic implications

Pathology Correlation

• Common pathologies for imaging appearance
• Staging implications (TNM, etc.)
• Molecular markers and imaging correlates
• Treatment response patterns

Clinical Correlation

• Lab values relevant to imaging findings
• Symptoms and clinical history
• Treatment history and timeline

Output Format

Returns structured JSON with:

• Prior finding references with dates
• Comparison metrics (size, characteristics)
• Change assessment with confidence
• Recommendations for followup
• Related literature citations

Usage Examples

reference_type: prior_studies
finding_summary: 2.5 cm lung nodule right upper lobe
patient_id: MRN12345

reference_type: pathology
finding_summary: irregular spiculated mass left lower lobe

reference_type: followup
finding_summary: 1.2 cm thyroid nodule compared to 6 months prior

Data Sources

• PACS for prior imaging studies
• RIS for structured reports
• EHR for clinical correlation
• Literature databases for research correlation
• Pathology system for radiology-pathology correlation