title: Application of region of interest definition to quadtree-based compression of CT images.
abstract: A quadtree-based data compression algorithm can provide different levels of compression within and outside of regions of interest (ROIs). The current study shows whether ROI compression can provide greater compression or diagnostic accuracy than uniform quadtree compression. In 75 single CT images from 75 consecutive abdominal examinations, 43 abnormalities were identified and surrounded by ROIs. Three radiologists interpreted the images following (1) 50:1 compression of the entire image; (2) ROI compression at five decreasing compression ratios (with 50:1 compression outside the ROI); and (3) reversible (lossless) compression of the entire image. Reversible compression (compression ratio 3:1) yielded a sensitivity of 96%. ROI compression of 15:1 was achieved with no loss of sensitivity; ROI compression of 28:1 yielded a sensitivity of 91% (not significantly different). At any given compression ratio, diagnostic sensitivity was greater with ROI compression than with uniform quadtree compression. For purposes of image archiving, quadtree-based ROI compression is superior to uniform compression of CT images.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, New York 10032.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Halpern
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Premkumar
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Mullen
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Newhouse
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Amis
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: I K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Mun
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D011873:Radiology Information Systems; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed