Smartphones and tablets: Reshaping radiation oncologists' lives.

BACKGROUND: Smartphones and tablets are new handheld devices always connected to an information source and capable of providing instant updates, they allow doctors to access the most updated information and provide decision support at the point of care.

AIM: The practice of radiation oncology has always been a discipline that relies on advanced technology. Smartphones provide substantial processing power, incorporating innovative user interfaces and applications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The most popular smartphone and tablet app stores were searched for "radiation oncology" and "oncology" related apps. A web search was also performed searching for smartphones, tablets, oncology, radiology and radiation oncology.

RESULTS: Smartphones and tablets allow rapid access to information in the form of podcasts, apps, protocols, reference texts, recent research and more.

CONCLUSION: With the rapidly changing advances in radiation oncology, the trend toward accessing resources via smartphones and tablets will only increase, future will show if this technology will improve clinical care.