Comparing the Diagnostic Performance of GPT-4-based ChatGPT, GPT-4V-based ChatGPT, and Radiologists in Challenging Neuroradiology Cases.

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic performance among Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT)-4-based ChatGPT, GPT‑4 with vision (GPT-4V) based ChatGPT, and radiologists in challenging neuroradiology cases.

Methods: We collected 32 consecutive "Freiburg Neuropathology Case Conference" cases from the journal Clinical Neuroradiology between March 2016 and December 2023. We input the medical history and imaging findings into GPT-4-based ChatGPT and the medical history and images into GPT-4V-based ChatGPT, then both generated a diagnosis for each case. Six radiologists (three radiology residents and three board-certified radiologists) independently reviewed all cases and provided diagnoses. ChatGPT and radiologists' diagnostic accuracy rates were evaluated based on the published ground truth. Chi-square tests were performed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of GPT-4-based ChatGPT, GPT-4V-based ChatGPT, and radiologists.

Results: GPT‑4 and GPT-4V-based ChatGPTs achieved accuracy rates of 22% (7/32) and 16% (5/32), respectively. Radiologists achieved the following accuracy rates: three radiology residents 28% (9/32), 31% (10/32), and 28% (9/32); and three board-certified radiologists 38% (12/32), 47% (15/32), and 44% (14/32). GPT-4-based ChatGPT's diagnostic accuracy was lower than each radiologist, although not significantly (all p > 0.07). GPT-4V-based ChatGPT's diagnostic accuracy was also lower than each radiologist and significantly lower than two board-certified radiologists (p = 0.02 and 0.03) (not significant for radiology residents and one board-certified radiologist [all p > 0.09]).

Conclusion: While GPT-4-based ChatGPT demonstrated relatively higher diagnostic performance than GPT-4V-based ChatGPT, the diagnostic performance of GPT‑4 and GPT-4V-based ChatGPTs did not reach the performance level of either radiology residents or board-certified radiologists in challenging neuroradiology cases.