Visual perception and diagnostic evaluation in mammography: a systematic review

• Published in: Saúde & Tecnologia pp. 31 - 40
• Main Authors: Carla Lança, Cláudia Reis, Luís Lança
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa 01-12-2015
• Subjects: acuidade diagnóstica, erros, mamografia, perceção visual
• ISSN: 1646-9704
• DOI: 10.25758/s&t.v0i0.794

Introduction – Diagnostic evaluation in mammography could be influenced by the radiologist performance that could be under diagnostic errors. Aims – To describe the importance of radiologist visual perception in mammographic diagnostic evaluation and to identify the main factors that contribute to diagnostic accuracy. Methods – In this systematic review 42 references were included based on inclusion criteria (PubMed and Science Direct). PRISMA method was used to select the references following 4 steps: identification, screening, eligibility and included references. Results – Visual perception in mammography diagnostic evaluation is related with: 1) visual parameters and ocular motility (visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and luminance and ocular movements); 2) image visualization environment (room iluminance and monitor luminance); and 3) eyestrain caused by image daily consecutive observation. Conclusions – Visual perception can be influenced by three errors categories: search errors (lesions are never looked at with high-resolution foveal vision), recognition errors (lesions are looked at, but not longenough to detect or recognize) and decision errors (lesions are looked at for long periods of time but are still missed). The reviewed studies concerning visual perception, visual attention, visual strategies and image visualization environment do not describe observer’s visual function. An accurate evaluation of visual perception in mammography must include visual function analysis.