Loss of information due to compression of medical images

Larry T. Cook

doi:10.1117/12.139250

20 January 1993 Loss of information due to compression of medical images

Larry T. Cook

Proceedings Volume 1785, Enabling Technologies for High-Bandwidth Applications; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.139250
Event: Fibers '92, 1992, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

Transmission of medical image data is subject to stringent requirements because of the large size of the images that are used. An appropriate compression algorithm could greatly reduce archival requirements and the time and cost of transmission. Investigation into compression algorithms has shown that the lossless variety gives a compression of about three to one. An alternative algorithm, such as a full-frame discrete cosine transform followed by lossless encoding, yields more compression but incurs a cost in terms of a deterioration of image quality. We wish to determine the threshold of compression, using this algorithm, beyond which significant deterioration of diagnostic quality is observed. Contrast-detail analysis has been used to describe aspects of the total imaging-observer performance of computed tomography, digital radiography, and standard film-screen systems. A radiographic phantom made of plastic and containing holes of varying diameter and depth is used to create appropriate images. These images are used to conduct a threshold visibility experiment with the participation of several human observers. The result is expressed in a contrast-detail curve. We report on the application of contrast-detail analysis to phosphor plate or computed radiography images in order to document the deterioration caused by compression.

Citation Download Citation

Larry T. Cook "Loss of information due to compression of medical images", Proc. SPIE 1785, Enabling Technologies for High-Bandwidth Applications, (20 January 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.139250

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