Computerized analysis of interstitial infiltrates on chest radiographs: a new scheme based on geometric pattern features and Fourier analysis.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Detection of interstitial infiltrates on chest radiographs is difficult and subjective. Therefore, we developed a computerized method to provide quantitative analysis of lung texture to increase diagnostic accuracy.

METHODS

Two hundred chest radiographs--100 healthy and 100 abnormal with interstitial infiltrates--were digitized using a laser scanner. They were analyzed by an automated computerized scheme that uses a combination of two methods for detection of interstitial infiltrates: a lung texture analysis based on the Fourier transform and a geometric pattern feature analysis based on filtering techniques.

RESULTS

The overall sensitivity and specificity of the computerized scheme were 92% and 90%, respectively. The scheme achieved a sensitivity of 80% in subtle cases (n = 15) and 88% in cases with localized interstitial disease (n = 26), whereas the specificity remained unchanged. There was good correlation between the computer output and the radiologists' severity rating.

CONCLUSION

This enhanced computerized scheme exhibits high sensitivity and specificity with a large database.