Abstract
Purpose: The task-based assessment of image quality using model observers is increasingly used for the assessment of different imaging modalities. However, the performance computation of model observers needs standardization as well as a well-established trust in its implementation methodology and uncertainty estimation. The purpose of this work was to determine the degree of equivalence of the channelized Hotelling observer performance and uncertainty estimation using an intercomparison exercise. Materials and Methods: Image samples to estimate model observer performance for detection tasks were generated from two-dimensional CT image slices of a uniform water phantom. A common set of images was sent to participating laboratories to perform and document the following tasks: (a) estimate the detectability index of a well-defined CHO and its uncertainty in three conditions involving different sized targets all at the same dose, and (b) apply this CHO to an image set where ground truth was unknown to participants (lower image dose). In addition, and on an optional basis, we asked the participating laboratories to (c) estimate the performance of real human observers from a psychophysical experiment of their choice. Each of the 13 participating laboratories was confidentially assigned a participant number and image sets could be downloaded through a secure server. Results were distributed with each participant recognizable by its number and then each laboratory was able to modify their results with justification as model observer calculation are not yet a routine and potentially error prone. Results: Detectability index increased with signal size for all participants and was very consistent for 6 mm sized target while showing higher variability for 8 and 10 mm sized target. There was one order of magnitude between the lowest and the largest uncertainty estimation. Conclusions: This intercomparison helped define the state of the art of model observer performance computation and with thirteen participants, reflects openness and trust within the medical imaging community. The performance of a CHO with explicitly defined channels and a relatively large number of test images was consistently estimated by all participants. In contrast, the paper demonstrates that there is no agreement on estimating the variance of detectability in the training and testing setting.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 3019-3030 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Medical Physics |
| Volume | 45 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 1 2018 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- channelized hotelling observer
- computed tomography
- image quality
- intercomparison
- model observers
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biophysics
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
Cite this
Inter-laboratory comparison of channelized hotelling observer computation. / Ba, Alexandre; Abbey, Craig K.; Baek, Jongduk; Han, Minah; Bouwman, Ramona W.; Balta, Christiana; Brankov, Jovan; Massanes, Francesc; Gifford, Howard C.; Hernandez-Giron, Irene; Veldkamp, Wouter J.H.; Petrov, Dimitar; Marshall, Nicholas; Samuelson, Frank W.; Zeng, Rongping; Solomon, Justin B.; Samei, Ehsan; Timberg, Pontus; Förnvik, Hannie; Reiser, Ingrid; Yu, Lifeng; Gong, Hao; Bochud, François O.
In: Medical Physics, Vol. 45, No. 7, 01.07.2018, p. 3019-3030.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Inter-laboratory comparison of channelized hotelling observer computation
AU - Ba, Alexandre
AU - Abbey, Craig K.
AU - Baek, Jongduk
AU - Han, Minah
AU - Bouwman, Ramona W.
AU - Balta, Christiana
AU - Brankov, Jovan
AU - Massanes, Francesc
AU - Gifford, Howard C.
AU - Hernandez-Giron, Irene
AU - Veldkamp, Wouter J.H.
AU - Petrov, Dimitar
AU - Marshall, Nicholas
AU - Samuelson, Frank W.
AU - Zeng, Rongping
AU - Solomon, Justin B.
AU - Samei, Ehsan
AU - Timberg, Pontus
AU - Förnvik, Hannie
AU - Reiser, Ingrid
AU - Yu, Lifeng
AU - Gong, Hao
AU - Bochud, François O.
PY - 2018/7/1
Y1 - 2018/7/1
N2 - Purpose: The task-based assessment of image quality using model observers is increasingly used for the assessment of different imaging modalities. However, the performance computation of model observers needs standardization as well as a well-established trust in its implementation methodology and uncertainty estimation. The purpose of this work was to determine the degree of equivalence of the channelized Hotelling observer performance and uncertainty estimation using an intercomparison exercise. Materials and Methods: Image samples to estimate model observer performance for detection tasks were generated from two-dimensional CT image slices of a uniform water phantom. A common set of images was sent to participating laboratories to perform and document the following tasks: (a) estimate the detectability index of a well-defined CHO and its uncertainty in three conditions involving different sized targets all at the same dose, and (b) apply this CHO to an image set where ground truth was unknown to participants (lower image dose). In addition, and on an optional basis, we asked the participating laboratories to (c) estimate the performance of real human observers from a psychophysical experiment of their choice. Each of the 13 participating laboratories was confidentially assigned a participant number and image sets could be downloaded through a secure server. Results were distributed with each participant recognizable by its number and then each laboratory was able to modify their results with justification as model observer calculation are not yet a routine and potentially error prone. Results: Detectability index increased with signal size for all participants and was very consistent for 6 mm sized target while showing higher variability for 8 and 10 mm sized target. There was one order of magnitude between the lowest and the largest uncertainty estimation. Conclusions: This intercomparison helped define the state of the art of model observer performance computation and with thirteen participants, reflects openness and trust within the medical imaging community. The performance of a CHO with explicitly defined channels and a relatively large number of test images was consistently estimated by all participants. In contrast, the paper demonstrates that there is no agreement on estimating the variance of detectability in the training and testing setting.
AB - Purpose: The task-based assessment of image quality using model observers is increasingly used for the assessment of different imaging modalities. However, the performance computation of model observers needs standardization as well as a well-established trust in its implementation methodology and uncertainty estimation. The purpose of this work was to determine the degree of equivalence of the channelized Hotelling observer performance and uncertainty estimation using an intercomparison exercise. Materials and Methods: Image samples to estimate model observer performance for detection tasks were generated from two-dimensional CT image slices of a uniform water phantom. A common set of images was sent to participating laboratories to perform and document the following tasks: (a) estimate the detectability index of a well-defined CHO and its uncertainty in three conditions involving different sized targets all at the same dose, and (b) apply this CHO to an image set where ground truth was unknown to participants (lower image dose). In addition, and on an optional basis, we asked the participating laboratories to (c) estimate the performance of real human observers from a psychophysical experiment of their choice. Each of the 13 participating laboratories was confidentially assigned a participant number and image sets could be downloaded through a secure server. Results were distributed with each participant recognizable by its number and then each laboratory was able to modify their results with justification as model observer calculation are not yet a routine and potentially error prone. Results: Detectability index increased with signal size for all participants and was very consistent for 6 mm sized target while showing higher variability for 8 and 10 mm sized target. There was one order of magnitude between the lowest and the largest uncertainty estimation. Conclusions: This intercomparison helped define the state of the art of model observer performance computation and with thirteen participants, reflects openness and trust within the medical imaging community. The performance of a CHO with explicitly defined channels and a relatively large number of test images was consistently estimated by all participants. In contrast, the paper demonstrates that there is no agreement on estimating the variance of detectability in the training and testing setting.
KW - channelized hotelling observer
KW - computed tomography
KW - image quality
KW - intercomparison
KW - model observers
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85049789575&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85049789575&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/mp.12940
DO - 10.1002/mp.12940
M3 - Article
C2 - 29704868
AN - SCOPUS:85049789575
VL - 45
SP - 3019
EP - 3030
JO - Medical Physics
JF - Medical Physics
SN - 0094-2405
IS - 7
ER -