Investigation of pneumoconiosis cases in chest X-rays and computer monitors

The research is designed to determine whether there are differences in diagnostic precision between a diagnosis made of a pneumoconiosis case using film viewing and using computer monitor viewing. Films taken at 5-year intervals for each case were taken from pneumoconiosis and control cases for analysis. The film images were digitized with a laser scanner and finished in a computer. For each case, diagnoses were made for the sequence of images, ill both film and digital form. The differences in the results for these four diagnosis conditions were determined. The diagnosis was based on the gradation of matching between the results made from film and those made from the computer monitor. There was considerable variation in the judgments among the observers. There was no detectable diagnostic difference in diagnostic film viewing and computer monitor viewing, suggesting that the training for physicians is more important than the imaging technology.