Computer diagnosis of radiographic images
Samuel J. Dwyer, Charles A. Harlow, Dale A. Ausherman, Gwilym S. Lodwick · 1971
The potential of optical scanning equipment and digital computers for assisting or replacing human judgment in medical diagnosis has been recognized by investigators for some time. A number of efforts have been made, with varying degrees of success, in developing automatic techniques for recognizing and classifying blood cells, chromosome analysis and karyotyping, identifying leucocytes, and processing scintigram images obtained in nuclear medicine. These image analysis techniques are now being extended to the clinical specialty of diagnostic radiology where there is an urgent need to provide assistance in handling the several million radiographs read by radiologists each year. The need for computer-aided diagnosis in radiology is becoming increasingly urgent because of the expanding population and the continuing demand for improved quality of medical care. The use of computers in radiology can free the diagnostic radiologist from routine tasks while providing more accurate measurements that lead to consistent and reliable diagnoses.