title: Assessment of intraaxial and extraaxial brain lesions with digitized computed tomographic images versus film: ROC analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of viewing computed tomographic (CT) scans as film versus soft-copy images at a workstation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Receiver operating characteristic analysis of the interpretation of 202 CT scans (103 were normal, 99 were abnormal) by five neuroradiologists was performed. Abnormal images contained high- or low-attenuation intraaxial lesions or extraaxial fluid (subdural, subarachnoid, or epidural hemorrhage). Hard copies were read on a standard light box, and digital images were examined at a 1,024 x 1,250 workstation. Lesion location and type and confidence ratings were recorded on a worksheet.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant differences in diagnostic accuracy between the two display modes. Reader performance was slightly better with the workstation in the assessment of low-attenuation lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diagnostic accuracy is similar for CT scans displayed at a workstation and those displayed as hard copy in the assessment of subtle intra- and extraaxial brain lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Center for the Health Sciences 90024-1721, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: el-Saden
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Hademenos
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Sayre
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Glenn
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steidler
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kode
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Quinones
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Valentino
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bentson
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006407:Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D012372:ROC Curve; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*