Effects of radiation dose and display contrast on low-contrast phantom image visibility

Charles C. Chamberlain; Walter Huda; Andrij R. Wojtowycz

doi:10.1117/12.349661

24 May 1999 Effects of radiation dose and display contrast on low-contrast phantom image visibility

Charles C. Chamberlain, Walter Huda, Andrij R. Wojtowycz

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3663, Medical Imaging 1999: Image Perception and Performance; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.349661
Event: Medical Imaging '99, 1999, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Computed radiography (CR) radiographs were generated of a low contrast phantom with 5 mm diameter disks. The radiation exposure incident on the imaging plate was varied from approximately 0.1 mR to approximately 10 mR, with the phantom images printed to film using a range of display contrast settings. Changing the radiation exposure by two orders of magnitude had only a modest effect on disk detection performance (approximately 20%), and much less than predicted by signal detection theory for the perception of noise limited objects. For images generated at approximately 1 and approximately 10 mR, increasing the display contrast markedly improved the disk detection performance (approximately 50%). There was approximate agreement between the experimental data and the corresponding theoretical predictions for the detection of contrast limited objects. For the contrast detail phantom employed in this study, disk detection was primarily contrast limited, with image noise being relatively unimportant. Lesion detection with an anthropomorphic phantom containing a structured background wold be unlikely to change this conclusion, since noise is expected to be most important for low contrast objects viewed against a uniform background. Contrast enhancement, as opposed to increasing radiation exposure, is therefore the method of choice for improving the detection of 5 mm diameter sized low contrast lesions in CR images.

Citation Download Citation

Charles C. Chamberlain, Walter Huda, and Andrij R. Wojtowycz "Effects of radiation dose and display contrast on low-contrast phantom image visibility", Proc. SPIE 3663, Medical Imaging 1999: Image Perception and Performance, (24 May 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.349661

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