diff --git a/portal/static/viewer.js b/portal/static/viewer.js
index 611b1f1..f50426a 100644
--- a/portal/static/viewer.js
+++ b/portal/static/viewer.js
@@ -748,6 +748,58 @@ async function setPanels(count) {
 	}
 }
 
+// Compare mode: 2-panel split with current + prior study, same orientation,
+// sync scroll enabled. If only one study exists, loads same study in both panels.
+async function compareStudies() {
+	if (studies.length < 1) return;
+
+	is3DMode = false;
+	document.getElementById('studySelect3d').style.display = 'none';
+	document.getElementById('panels').innerHTML = '';
+	panels = [];
+	panelCount = 0;
+
+	const studyA = studies[0];                              // most recent
+	const studyB = studies.length > 1 ? studies[1] : studyA; // prior (or same)
+
+	// Load both panels
+	await addPanel();
+	await addPanel();
+
+	// Load study A into panel 0
+	currentStudyId = studyA.id;
+	await changeStudyForPanel(0, studyA.id);
+
+	// Load study B into panel 1
+	await changeStudyForPanel(1, studyB.id);
+
+	// After both are loaded, try to match orientation: prefer AX, then SAG, then COR
+	const preferOri = ['AX', 'SAG', 'COR'];
+	for (const ori of preferOri) {
+		const sA = (panels[0].seriesList || []).find(s => s.orientation === ori || (s.series_desc || '').toUpperCase().startsWith(ori));
+		const sB = (panels[1].seriesList || []).find(s => s.orientation === ori || (s.series_desc || '').toUpperCase().startsWith(ori));
+		if (sA && sB) {
+			const selA = document.getElementById('panel-0').querySelector('.series-select');
+			const selB = document.getElementById('panel-1').querySelector('.series-select');
+			if (selA) selA.value = sA.id;
+			if (selB) selB.value = sB.id;
+			await loadSeries(0, sA.id);
+			await loadSeries(1, sB.id);
+			break;
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Enable sync scroll
+	const syncEl = document.getElementById('syncScroll');
+	if (syncEl) syncEl.checked = true;
+
+	// Sync both panels to middle slice
+	if (panels[0] && panels[0].slices.length) {
+		const mid = Math.floor(panels[0].slices.length / 2);
+		goToSlice(0, mid);
+	}
+}
+
 async function changeStudyForPanel(panelIdx, studyId) {
 	currentStudyId = studyId;
 	const panel = panels[panelIdx];
diff --git a/viewer/main.go b/viewer/main.go
index 71150d9..33bed31 100644
--- a/viewer/main.go
+++ b/viewer/main.go
@@ -389,6 +389,7 @@ func handleViewer(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 			<button id="btn2panels" onclick="setPanels(2)">2 Panels</button>
 			<button id="btn3panels" onclick="setPanels(3)">3 Panels</button>
 			<button id="btn3d" onclick="set3DMode()">3D</button>
+			<button id="btnCompare" onclick="compareStudies()" title="Compare current vs prior study side-by-side with sync scroll">Compare</button>
 		</div>
 		<label id="syncLabel" class="sync-label"><input type="checkbox" id="syncScroll" checked><span>Sync</span></label>
 	</div>