Volumetric detection tasks with varying complexity: human observer performance

Ljiljana Platiša; Asli Kumcu; Milan Platiša; Ewout Vansteenkiste; Karel Deblaere; Aldo Badano; Wilfried Philips

doi:10.1117/12.911558

28 February 2012 Volumetric detection tasks with varying complexity: human observer performance

Ljiljana Platiša, Asli Kumcu, Milan Platiša, Ewout Vansteenkiste, Karel Deblaere, Aldo Badano, Wilfried Philips

Proceedings Volume 8318, Medical Imaging 2012: Image Perception, Observer Performance, and Technology Assessment; 83180S (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.911558
Event: SPIE Medical Imaging, 2012, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

This study explores detection performance trends of human observers with respect to two parameters: task complexity determined by the frequency content of background and signal, and image viewing mode: singleslice (ss) versus multi-slice (ms) stack-browsing image presentation. The images are 3D correlated Gaussian noise with a 3D Gaussian signal centered in the image volume. To vary task complexity, we consider three different noise kernels while keeping the signal spread constant across all images. In ss mode, only the central slice of the volume is presented to the observer, while in ms mode all slices are available. All human readings are conducted in a controlled viewing environment on a 5MP digital mammography medical display. Overall, in line with the literature, we find that human performance increases in ms relative to ss image presentation mode. Furthermore, our experiments indicate that the extent of difference between ms and ss performance is influenced by the properties of image data (level of task complexity): the difference in performance increases (from ΔAUC= 0.14 to ΔAUC= 0.30) as the difference in the frequency content of the signal and the background increases. In other words, the benefit of having additional slices available in ms mode is larger for lower-complexity tasks. Future studies shall focus on comparing the results of the present study to the existing model observers for volumetric images, ultimately aiming to design an anthropomorphic model observer for volumetric detection tasks.

Citation Download Citation

Ljiljana Platiša, Asli Kumcu, Milan Platiša, Ewout Vansteenkiste, Karel Deblaere, Aldo Badano, and Wilfried Philips "Volumetric detection tasks with varying complexity: human observer performance", Proc. SPIE 8318, Medical Imaging 2012: Image Perception, Observer Performance, and Technology Assessment, 83180S (28 February 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.911558

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