Sara Kammerer, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Anna Knauer, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Christoph Schuelke, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Walter Leonhard Heindel MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Boris Buerke MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Contrast-enhanced thoracoabdominal CT is an established method in cancer staging.However,higher rates of missed pathologies in case of little work experience suggest that a methodical approach of detection of pathologies can be learned.Thus,aim of this study is to investigate differences in focussing of radiologic residents or specialists when screening CT for oncological findings to evaluate the efficiency of different methodological principles in analysis of CTs according to the professional experience.

Thoracoabdominal MSCTs of 20 patients with the clinical indication of staging owing to known underlying oncological disease were included.CTs were presented to 4 radiologists with varying years of working experience and evaluated independently of one another.Meanwhile ocular fixation positions are recorded using an eye-tracking software tool (Tobii X2-60 EyeTracker),a commercially available software tool that is already perfectly established.CTs were retrospectively analysed with the issue of successful detection of all pathologies.Based on the eye-fixation patterns heat maps were created.Visual attention,dwell time of ocular fixation on clinically important or areas with pathologic findings,general search patterns and time efficiency was assessed.Statistical analysis was performed taking account to the individual stage of professional experience.

The analysis revealed that observer sensitivity depends on work experience due to a systematical order of inspection and a good known course of disease,f.e.of metastatic spread.Missed pathologies mostly included secondary findings or a lack of methodical approach of inspection.The dwell time of ocular fixation of unexperienced readers was significantly higher in salient findings whereas experienced readers more frequently fixated areas with less salient,but clinically important findings or clinically important regions.

Preliminary results suggest that experienced radiologic physicians reduce missed findings through looking more systematically upon CTs and a focus on clinically important regions regarding the individual primary disease.Visual attention was more targeted in the practiced physicians and less time was needed,however all experience stages seem to be able to improve their performance by analyzing CT images in systematic patterns.

Improvement of CT screening by evaluating the most effective search method.

Kammerer, S, Knauer, A, Schuelke, C, Heindel, W, Buerke, B, Different Approaches and Methodological Principles of Reporting in Chest/Abdominal CT with Oncologic Questioning by Residents and Radiology Specialists with Regard to Professional Experience: Results of a Clinical Investigation Using Eye-Tracking.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14011388.html