Comparison of observer performance for real and simulated nodules in chest radiography

Observer performance studies are frequently performed to evaluate and compare various radiographic techniques with regard to detection of subtle lung nodules using simulated nodules. The fidelity of the simulated nodules and their equivalency to the real lesions have not been investigated in prior studies. We have developed simulated Teflon nodules with contrast characteristics emulating real nodules found in a database of graded chest radiographs. This paper presents a summary of the method used to make the phantoms, describes our technique for positioning the phantoms in human subject studies, and reports the preliminary results of an observer performance study for detection of the simulated nodules compared to real lesions.

Duke Scholars

Author Ehsan Samei Radiology