Measuring observer performance in chest radiology: some experiences.

All decisions made under conditions of uncertainty have error rates. All meaningful decisions are made under conditions of uncertainty. Can this uncertainty be measured? Can variations in how different observers deal with this uncertainty be ascertained? The ability to measure observer performance in diagnostic imaging was one of the issues that initiated the field of medical decision analysis.

Transformative technology: a conversation with E. James Potchen and Bill Clarke. Interview by John K. Inglehart.

In this interview, a representative of academe (E. James Potchen) and one from industry (Bill Clarke) discuss the ways in which their interests intersect for the good of U.S.

Cortical activation during rhythmic hand movements performed under three types of control: an fMRI study.

Echoplanar fMRI was used to measure changes in cortical activation during the performance of a simple hand movement task under three types of voluntary control. Each of three imaging series alternated a task with rest: passive (in which the experimenter moved the hand), voluntary against low resistance, and voluntary against higher resistance. Contralateral activation was observed in the supplementary motor area (SMA), the primary motor cortex (M1), and the somatosensory cortex (S1) in all three tasks in each subject, whereas ipsilateral activation differed in each cortical region for each task.

Measuring performance in chest radiography.

Purpose: To use a standardized set of chest radiographs to quantify interobserver differences and to provide a basis for comparing the diagnostic performance of physicians.

Materials And Methods: A standardized set of 60 chest radiographs was presented to 162 study participants. Each participant reviewed the radiographs and recorded his or her diagnostic impression by using a fixed five-point scale.