AN INVESTIGATION INTO CT RADIATION DOSE VARIATIONS FOR HEAD EXAMINATIONS ON MATCHED EQUIPMENT.

This study investigated radiation dose and image quality differences for computed tomography (CT) head examinations across centres with matched CT equipment. Radiation dose records and imaging protocols currently employed across three European university teaching hospitals were collated, compared and coded as Centres A, B and C from specification matched CT equipment models. Patient scans (n = 40) obtained from Centres A and C were evaluated for image quality, based on the visualisation of Commission of European Community (CEC) image quality criteria using visual grading characteristic (VGC) analysis, where American Board of Radiology examiners (n = 11) stated their confidence in identifying anatomical criteria.

Is the iPad suitable for image display at American Board of Radiology examinations?

Objective: The study aimed to determine the acceptability of the iPad 3 as a display option for American Board of Radiology (ABR) examinations.

Subjects And Methods: A set of 20 cases for each of nine specialties examined by the ABR was prepared. Each comprised between one and seven images and case information and had been used in previous ABR Initial Certification examinations.

A multiobserver study of the effects of including point-of-care patient photographs with portable radiography: a means to detect wrong-patient errors.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate whether the presence of facial photographs obtained at the point-of-care of portable radiography leads to increased detection of wrong-patient errors.

Materials And Methods: In this institutional review board-approved study, 166 radiograph-photograph combinations were obtained from 30 patients. Consecutive radiographs from the same patients resulted in 83 unique pairs (ie, a new radiograph and prior, comparison radiograph) for interpretation.

Number of mammography cases read per year is a strong predictor of sensitivity.

Early detection of breast cancers affects the 5-year recurrence rates and treatment options for diagnosed patients, and consequently, many countries have instituted nationwide screening programs. This study compared the performance of expert radiologists from Australia and the United States in detection of breast cancer. Forty-one radiologists, 21 from Australia and 20 from the United States, reviewed 30 mammographic cases containing two-view mammograms.

The effect of JPEG2000 compression on detection of skull fractures.

Rational And Objectives: To investigate the effect of the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG2000) 30:1 and 60:1 lossy compression on the detection of cranial vault fractures when compared to JPEG2000 lossless compression.

Materials And Methods: Fifty cranial computed tomography (CT) images were processed with three different level of JPEG2000 compression (lossless, 30:1 lossy, and 60:1 lossy) creating three sets of images. These were presented to five musculoskeletal specialists and five neuroradiologists.

Flexible image evaluation: iPad versus secondary-class monitors for review of MR spinal emergency cases, a comparative study.

Rationale And Objectives: Studies have highlighted the potential of handheld viewing devices for rapid diagnosis and increased smartphone usage among physicians and radiologists is known as is the clinical applicability of hand-held devices for computed tomography (CT) spinal injury cases. Magnetic resonance (MR), however, is the accepted gold standard for spinal imaging, providing visualization of both ligament and spinal cord pathology. This study investigated the diagnostic accuracy of the iPad, the most probable alternative display device outside the radiology environment and financially viable alternative, when reviewing emergency spinal MR images, in comparison with secondary-class LCD devices in the case of the interpretation of CT and MR imaging examinations.

The effect of abnormality-prevalence expectation on expert observer performance and visual search.

Purpose: To measure the effect of abnormality-prevalence expectation on experienced radiologists' performance during pulmonary nodular lesion detection on a chest radiograph.

Materials And Methods: A multiobserver receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and eye-position analysis study was performed to assess the effect of prevalence expectation on observer performance. Twenty-two experienced radiologists were divided into three groups and each was asked to interpret 30 (15 abnormal) identical posteroanterior chest images twice and decide if pulmonary lesions were present.

Variations in performance of LCDs are still evident after DICOM gray-scale standard display calibration.

Objective: Quality assurance in medical imaging is directly beneficial to image quality. Diagnostic images are frequently displayed on secondary-class displays that have minimal or no regular quality assurance programs, and treatment decisions are being made from these display types. The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of calibration on physical and psychophysical performance of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and the extent of potential variance across various types of LCDs.

Diagnostic efficacy of handheld devices for emergency radiologic consultation.

Objective: Orthopedic injury and intracranial hemorrhage are commonly encountered in emergency radiology, and accurate and timely diagnosis is important. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the diagnostic accuracy of handheld computing devices is comparable to that of monitors that might be used in emergency teleconsultation.

Subjects And Methods: Two handheld devices, a Dell Axim personal digital assistant (PDA) and an Apple iPod Touch device, were studied.

Evaluation of off-the-shelf displays for use in the American Board of Radiology maintenance of certification examination.

Purpose: To prospectively compare high-, mid-, and low-resolution off-the-shelf displays currently employed by commercial testing centers, in terms of visibility of lesion features needed to render a diagnostic decision when possible diagnoses are provided in a multiple-choice format during a maintenance of certification (MOC) examination.

Materials And Methods: The Psychometrics Division of the American Board of Radiology (ABR) approved the studies (human subjects and HIPAA compliant). One study compared 1280 x 1024 displays with 1024 x 768 displays; the second, 1600 x 1200 with 1280 x 1024 displays.