Abstract | RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess the performance of a real-time interactive pulmonary nodule analysis system for evaluation of chest digital radiographic (DR) images in a routine clinical environment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A real-time interactive pulmonary nodule analysis system for chest DR image softcopy reading (IQQA-Chest; EDDA Technology, Princeton Junction, NJ) was used in daily practice with a Picture Archiving and Communication System in a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer teaching hospital. Patients referred for follow-up of known cancer underwent digital chest radiography. Posteroanterior and lateral DR images were first read by resident radiologists along with experienced chest radiologists using a Picture Archiving and Communication System work station. The computer-assisted detection (CAD) program was subsequently applied to the posteroanterior DR images, and changes (if any) in diagnosis were recorded. For reference standard, a follow-up chest radiograph at least 6 months following the initial examination or a follow-up computed tomographic scan of the chest within 3 months was used to establish diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: Of 324 DR examinations, follow-up imaging according to our parameters was available for 214 patients (67%). Lung nodules were found and subsequently confirmed in 35 patients (10%) without CAD. Using CAD, nodules were found and subsequently confirmed in 51 patients (15%), improving sensitivity from 63.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49%-0.76%) to 92.7% (95% CI, 0.82%-0.98%) (P < .0001, McNemar). Nodules were subsequently proved to be malignant in five of the 16 additional cases (31%). False-positive readings increased from three to six cases; specificity decreased from 98.1% (95% CI, 0.95%-0.99%) to 96.2% (95% CI, 0.92%-0.98%) (not significant). There were 153 true-negative cases (71.4%). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the interpretation of chest radiographs for lung nodules can be improved using an automated CAD nodule detection system. This improvement in reader performance comes with a minimal number of false-positive interpretations.
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Authors | Edwin J R van Beek, Brian Mullan, Brad Thompson |
Journal | Academic radiology
(Acad Radiol)
Vol. 15
Issue 5
Pg. 571-5
(May 2008)
ISSN: 1076-6332 [Print] United States |
PMID | 18423313
(Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article)
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Topics |
- Chi-Square Distribution
- Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted
(instrumentation)
- Humans
- Lung Neoplasms
(diagnostic imaging, secondary)
- Predictive Value of Tests
- Prospective Studies
- Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
(instrumentation)
- Radiography, Thoracic
- Radiology Information Systems
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Software
- Solitary Pulmonary Nodule
(diagnostic imaging, secondary)
- User-Computer Interface
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