Computed tomography interpretations with a low-cost workstation: a timing study.
An ergonomically simple prototype workstation with two 900 x 1,100-pixel monitors capable of displaying eight full-resolution computed tomography (CT) images in 0.2 seconds, was compared with film for interpretation of computed tomographic images of the chest and abdomen. The hardware platform for this workstation cost less than $11,500 in 1993. A repeated-measures experiment was used to generate average interpretation times of 6.17 minutes for the workstation and 6.03 minutes for the film, including loading and unloading films, with three of the four subjects averaging about a minute longer for each workstation interpretation. All dictated reports were of clinically acceptable accuracy. All radiologists stated that workstations based on this design would be an acceptable clinical tool. However, observation suggested human working-memory strain among infrequent CT readers that could indicate the need for additional training. These data suggest that low-cost workstations can have practical application in interpretation of digital medical images such as CT, with the possibility of small increases in interpretation time.
Beard
D V
DV
Department of Radiology, Computer Science, and Surgery, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill 27599-7510.
Hemminger
B M
BM
Pisano
E D
ED
Denelsbeck
K M
KM
Warshauer
D M
DM
Mauro
M A
MA
Keefe
B
B
McCartney
W H
WH
Wilcox
C B
CB
D000328:Adult; D003199:Computer Systems; D003626:Data Display; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D011873:Radiology Information Systems; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014962:X-Ray Film