When a prior study is loaded into at least one image frame, you can replace it with the next or previous prior from the thumbnail panel by using the Load Next/Previous Prior tool, as follows:
If Match modality when selecting prior is enabled, the Next Prior and Next Prior Same Modality options function the same, meaning both will choose the next prior with the same modality value. Similarly, Previous Prior and Previous Prior Same Modality will select the same prior as well.
When matching priors by modality when a study has multiple modality values, a single match between any one of the current prior’s modality values and any one of the next prior’s modality values will result in a match.
When you reach the last/first prior in the thumbnail panel, the next next/previous request depends on the state of the Cyclic Image Scrolling setting. If active, the viewer loops to the first prior study. If inactive, the viewer stops loading priors. If multiple prior studies are included in the current display layout, the image frame is cleared if there is no “next” prior, until the last prior is loaded into the image frame, at which time the viewer stops loading priors.
The primary study, meaning the first study in the thumbnail panel, will not be loaded using the next/previous prior tool.
When replacing the prior study, the viewer loads the series based on the hanging protocol identifiers, including, among other fields, the Series Description. If the study does not contain a series equivalent to that of the loaded prior, the image frame will remain blank but the description information is retained so the frame will be populated accordingly with the next prior.