Approaches to inspecting computed tomographic and magnetic resonance studies

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Radiology
• Medical Imaging Analysis
• Visual Perception in Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Optimal inspection of large medical image datasets, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) scans, requires further understanding.
• Veterinary radiologists' approaches to image inspection can significantly impact diagnostic accuracy and efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gather opinions from practicing veterinary radiologists on their inspection methods for CT and MR studies.
• To investigate associations between radiologists' inspection strategies and their professional background (training, experience, caseload).

Main Methods:

• An online questionnaire was distributed to Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR) and the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (ECVDI).
• Responses from 139 CT and 116 MR complete datasets were analyzed, comparing approaches based on specialty college, years of experience, caseload, and practice type.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in inspection approaches were observed between ACVR and ECVDI Diplomates.
• ACVR Diplomates tended to inspect multiple anatomical structures per image, while ECVDI Diplomates focused on one structure across a series before moving to another.
• Many radiologists reported initially disregarding patient history, employing rigid search patterns, and arranging images for easier comparison (e.g., pre- and post-contrast).

Conclusions:

• Radiologists' inspection strategies for CT and MR studies are often similar.
• Findings can inform the training of new veterinary radiologists in approaching large imaging studies.
• The study provides a basis for case-based assessment of trainees' image inspection skills.