Chronometric analysis of mammography expertise

Claudia Mello-Thoms; Calvin F. Nodine; Harold L. Kundel

doi:10.1117/12.349635

24 May 1999 Chronometric analysis of mammography expertise

Claudia Mello-Thoms, Calvin F. Nodine, Harold L. Kundel

Proceedings Volume 3663, Medical Imaging 1999: Image Perception and Performance; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.349635
Event: Medical Imaging '99, 1999, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

This paper studies the effects of training and experience on decision time and performance in mammography. We compared the performance of three groups of observers representing different levels of expertise: dedicated breast imagers (mammographers), radiology residents undergoing a mammography rotation, and mammography technologists, when reading a test set that contains benign and malignant lesions, as well as lesion free images. We show that the number of cases read significantly impacts performance, as measured by the area under the AFROC curve. We also show that different levels of expertise have different decision structures during the time course of image viewing. In fact we show that the mammographers should stop reading an image after 60 - 80 seconds, because at this point they have found all of the true targets present, and they are much more likely to make a mistake. On the other hand residents and technologists mistakes plague their performance throughout the time course of image viewing.

Citation Download Citation

Claudia Mello-Thoms, Calvin F. Nodine, and Harold L. Kundel "Chronometric analysis of mammography expertise", Proc. SPIE 3663, Medical Imaging 1999: Image Perception and Performance, (24 May 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.349635

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available