[A comparison of the monitor and alternator findings of digital thoracic images with the aid of a computer-supported procedure].
OBJECTIVE
To compare softcopy and hardcopy reading of chest radiographs a software tool was designed for creating lesions with clearly defined size, location and contrast.


METHODS
An ROC study was performed using a set of chest radiographs with 300 simulated small nodules and linear details displayed on film and on a 1 K monitor. Six observers participated in the study. ROC curves were generated on the basis of 7200 decisions.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference in observer performance overall (AUC = Area under curve). Monitor: 0.84 +/- 0.08 vs. AUC, Film: 0.84 +/- 0.08). Slight, but not statistical significant differences were found in the detection of low-contrast lung nodules and of linear lung details.


CONCLUSIONS
Soft-copy reading using a high quality 1 K CRT display provides the same accuracy for the detection of subtle computer-simulated lesions as hardcopy reading. A software tool could be used for assigning optimal characteristics of CRT- and hardcopy displays using clearly defined lesions as a gold standard.
Heckermann
D
D
Institut für Radiologische Diagnostik, Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
Fink
U
U
Schätzl
M
M
Fink
B
B
Kenn
W
W
Miller
P
P
Pistitsch
C
C
Herrmann
K
K
Reiser
M
M
D003198:Computer Simulation; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D015588:Observer Variation; D012372:ROC Curve; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011873:Radiology Information Systems / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012984:Software