title: Low-cost soft-copy display accuracy in the detection of pulmonary nodules by single-exposure dual-energy subtraction: comparison with hard-copy viewing.
abstract: This study endeavored to clarify the usefulness of single-exposure dual-energy subtraction computed radiography (CR) of the chest and the ability of soft-copy images to detect low-contrast simulated pulmonary nodules. Conventional and bone-subtracted CR images of 25 chest phantom image sets with a low-contrast nylon nodule and 25 without a nodule were interpreted by 12 observers (6 radiologists, 6 chest physicians) who rated each on a continuous confidence scale and marked the position of the nodule if one was present. Hard-copy images were 7 x 7-inch laser-printed CR films, and soft-copy images were displayed on a 21-inch noninterlaced color CRT monitor with an optimized dynamic range. Soft-copy images were adjusted to the same size as hard-copy images and were viewed under darkened illumination in the reading room. No significant differences were found between hard- and soft-copy images. In conclusion, the soft-copy images were found to be useful in detecting low-contrast simulated pulmonary nodules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Yamaguchi University, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kido
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuriyama
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hosomi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kuroda
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horai
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013382:Subtraction Technique