Comparison of five digital scintigraphic display modes. An ROC curve analysis of detection performance

In the last decade diagnostic imaging departments, even those of moderate size, have experienced unprecedented growth. Much of this expansion can be attributed directly to technological developments, including systems for the acquisition of diagnostic images in digital format. In modern imaging departments, digital-based systems are quite common and are found across the specialities of nuclear medicine, ultrasound, transmission and emission computed tomography, and angiography. Nuclear magnetic resonance is the newest digital-based modality, and it appears destined to achieve its place in the diagnostic arsenal. These systems all have one trait in common, which is the topic of this paper. They offer the potential of increasing diagnostic accuracy by varying the methods used to process and display the acquired imaged data. We present the results of a nuclear medicine study designed to compare observer performance among five digital scintigraphic display modes. The observer's task was to detect artificially created lesions in brain scintigrams. Each mode is defined by a combination of an image processing function and a method of display. Using 40 trained observers, a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed. The results support the use of color displays in nuclear medicine.