A JAFROC study of nodule detection performance in CT images of a thorax acquired during PET/CT.

Thompson, J.D.; Wareing, A.; Szczepura, K.R.; Vinjamuri, S.; Hogg, P.

Abstract

Purpose - Two types of CT images (modalities) are acquired in PET/CT: for attenuation correction (AC) and diagnosis. The purpose of the study was to compare nodule detection and localization performance between these two modalities. Methods - CT images, using both modalities, of an anthropomorphic chest phantom containing zero or more simulated spherical nodules of 5, 8, 10 and 12 mm diameters and contrasts -800, -630 and 100 HU were acquired. An observer performance study using nine observers interpreting 45 normal (zero nodules) images and 47 abnormal images (1-3 nodules; average 1.26) was conducted using the free-response receiver operating characteristic (FROC) paradigm. Data were analysed using an R software package implemented jackknife alternative FROC (JAFROC) analysis. Both empirical areas under the equally weighted AFROC curve (wAFROC) and under the highest rating inferred ROC (HR-ROC) curve were used as figures of merit (FOM). To control the probability of Type I error test alpha was set at 0.05. Results - Nodule detection as measured by either FOM was significantly better on the diagnostic quality images (2nd modality), irrespective of the method of analysis, [reader averaged inter-modality wAFROC FOM difference = -0.07 (-0.11,-0.04); reader averaged inter-modality HR-ROC FOM difference = -0.05 (-0.09, -0.01)]. Conclusion - Nodule detection was statistically worse on images acquired for AC; suggesting that images acquired for AC should not be used to evaluate pulmonary pathology.

Citation

THOMPSON, J.D., WAREING, A., SZCZEPURA, K.R., VINJAMUN, S. and HOGG, P. 2017. A JAFROC study of nodule detection performance in CT images of a thorax acquired during PET/CT. Radiography [online], 23(3), pages 191-196. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2017.03.001

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 3, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Mar 22, 2017
• Publication Date: Aug 31, 2017
• Deposit Date: Apr 6, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 23, 2018
• Journal: Radiography
• Print ISSN: 1078-8174
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-2831
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 23
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 191-196
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2017.03.001
• Keywords: PET/CT; Nodule detection; JAFROC
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/2254