Observer performance comparison of digital radiograph systems for stereotactic breast needle biopsy.
OBJECTIVE
Two digital radiograph systems for stereotactic mammography, one using a lens to couple a Lanex Regular screen to a back-illuminated charge-coupled device (CCD) and one using a fiber-optic taper to couple a Min-R Regular-type screen to a front-illuminated CCD, were evaluated with respect to observer performance.


METHODS
A contrast-detail phantom was imaged in a variety of equivalent exposure conditions on both systems. Six observers viewed images on a video monitor and recorded which objects were detected.


RESULTS
Performance (percent correct detections) with the lens-coupled system using the Lanex Regular screen was significantly higher than with the fiber-optic-coupled system using the Min-R Regular-type screen.


CONCLUSIONS
Differences in absorption efficiencies of phosphors used, as well as differences in design of the two cameras, can explain differences in observer detection performance.
Krupinski
E A
EA
Department of Radiology, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson 85724, USA.
Roehrig
H
H
Yu
T
T
D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015588:Observer Variation; D055100:Optical Fibers; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques