Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Observer performance in detecting multiple radiographic signals: prediction and analysis using a generalized ROC approach

Conference ·
OSTI ID:7364245

The theories of decision processes and signal detection provide a framework for the evaluation of observer performance. Some radiologic procedures involve a search for multiple similar lesions, as in gallstone or pneumoconiosis examinations. A model is presented which attempts to predict, from the conventional receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve describing the detectability of a single visual signal in a radiograph, observer performance in an experiment requiring detection of more than one such signal. An experiment is described which tests the validity of this model for the case of detecting the presence of zero, one, or two low-contrast radiographic images of a two-mm.-diameter lucite bead embedded in radiographic mottle. Results from six observers, including three radiologists, confirm the validity of the model and suggest that human observer performance for relatively complex detection tasks can be predicted from the results of simpler experiments.

Research Organization:
Chicago Univ., Ill. (USA). Dept. of Radiology; Franklin McLean Memorial Research Inst., Chicago, Ill. (USA)
OSTI ID:
7364245
Report Number(s):
CONF-751179-1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Radiographic applications of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves
Journal Article · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1973 · Radiology; (United States) · OSTI ID:7293182

Visual detection and localization of radiographic images
Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1975 · Radiology, v. 116, no. 3, pp. 533-538 · OSTI ID:4043058

ROC methodology in radiologic imaging
Journal Article · Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · Invest. Radiol.; (United States) · OSTI ID:6965115