title: Expert interpretation compensates for reduced image quality of camera-digitized images referred to radiologists.
abstract: We compared the accuracy of five veterinary radiologists when reading 20 radiographic cases on both analog film and in camera-digitized format. In addition, we compared the ability of five veterinary radiologists vs. 10 private practice veterinarians to interpret the analog images. Interpretation accuracy was compared using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Veterinary radiologists' accuracy did not significantly differ between analog vs. camera-digitized images (P = 0.13) although sensitivity was higher for analog images. Radiologists' interpretation of both digital and analog images was significantly better compared with the private veterinarians (P < 0.05).
authors.affiliation: Matthew J. Ryan Department of Clinical Studies, Veterinary Hospital, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. azwingen@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: Allison L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Zwingenberger
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bouma
authors.forename: H Mark
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: Calvin F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Nodine
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004285:Dogs; D010781:Photography; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D011871:Radiology / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012958:Societies, Scientific; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018634:Veterinarians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*