Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F F Yin

Publications and source records attributed to F F Yin.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Data compression: effect on diagnostic accuracy in digital chest radiography.

High-resolution digital images make up very large data sets that are relatively slow to transmit and expensive to store. Data compression techniques are being developed to address this problem, but significant image deterioration can occur at high compression ratios. In this study, the authors evaluated a form of adaptive block cosine transform coding, a new compression technique that allows considerable compression of digital radiographs with minimal degradation of image quality. To determine the effect of data compression on diagnostic accuracy, observer tests were performed with 60 digitized chest radiographs (2,048 x 2,048 matrix, 1,024 shades of gray) containing subtle examples of pneumothorax, interstitial infiltrate, nodules, and bone lesions. Radiographs with no compression, with 25:1 compression, and with 50:1 compression ratios were presented in randomized order to 12 radiologists. The results suggest that, with this compression scheme, compression ratios as high as 25:1 may be acceptable for primary diagnosis in chest radiology.

Humans↗

Pulmonary nodules: computer-aided detection in digital chest images.

Currently, radiologists fail to detect pulmonary nodules in up to 30% of cases with actually positive findings. Diagnoses may be missed due to camouflaging effects of anatomic background, subjective and varying decision criteria, or distractions in clinical situations. We developed a computerized method to detect locations of lung nodules in digital chest images. The method is based on a difference-image approach and feature-extraction techniques, including growth, slope, and profile tests. Computer results were used to alert 12 radiologists to possible nodule locations in 60 clinical cases. Preliminary results suggest that computer aid can improve the detection performance of radiologists.

Adult↗

Measurement of the presampling modulation transfer function of film digitizers using a curve fitting technique.

A curve fitting technique combined with an angulated slit image has been developed for the measurement of the presampling modulation transfer function (MTF) of film digitizers. The noisy line spread functions (LSFs) acquired from an angulated slit image are fitted using a combination of two functions by means of a nonlinear least-square fitting technique. The parameters in the model function for each LSF are obtained by minimizing the residual root mean square (RMS), and then averaged over all the LSF fittings. The resulting analytical function is representative of the continuous presampled LSF. We have found that a combination of Gaussian and exponential functions provides a good fit to the LSFs obtained with film digitizers. The corresponding analytical Fourier transformation of the model function yields the presampling MTF, without Nyquist frequency limitation. Measurements of spatial resolution properties using this method were performed for two laser scanners and an optical drum scanner.

Biophysical Phenomena↗

Computerized detection of masses in digital mammograms: analysis of bilateral subtraction images.

A computerized scheme is being developed for the detection of masses in digital mammograms. Based on the deviation from the normal architectural symmetry of the right and left breasts, a bilateral subtraction technique is used to enhance the conspicuity of possible masses. The scheme employs two pairs of conventional screen-film mammograms (the right and left mediolateral oblique views and craniocaudal views), which are digitized by a TV camera/Gould digitizer. The right and left breast images in each pair are aligned manually during digitization. A nonlinear bilateral subtraction technique that involves linking multiple subtracted images has been investigated and compared to a simple linear subtraction method. Various feature-extraction techniques are used to reduce false-positive detections resulting from the bilateral subtraction. The scheme has been evaluated using 46 pairs of clinical mammograms and was found to yield a 95% true-positive rate at an average of three false-positive detections per image. This preliminary study indicates that the scheme is potentially useful as an aid to radiologists in the interpretation of screening mammograms.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Comparison of imaging properties of a computed radiography system and screen-film systems.

To compare the diagnostic quality of images obtained with a computed radiography (CR) system based on storage phosphor technology with that obtained with conventional screen-film systems, a dual-image recording technique was devised. With this technique, a CR imaging plate is placed behind a screen-film system in a conventional cassette. This makes it possible to obtain two images simultaneously, one from each system, in a clinical examination with the same patient positioning, the same degree of patient motion, the same geometric unsharpness, and no additional exposure. The modulation transfer functions (MTFs) of the CR system with and without the dual-image recording technique were greater at low frequencies, but lower at high frequencies, that the MTFs of the screen-film systems used. The noise Wiener spectra of the CR images at the plane of the imaging plate were greater than those of the screen-film systems, but were comparable to those of the screen-film systems at the plane of the printed film due to the reduction in image size. Clinical chest images obtained with the dual-image recording technique appeared comparable, probably because of the image size reduction and the use of mild unsharp mask processing.

Humans↗