Eye movement during computed tomography interpretation: Eyetracker results and image display-time implications

Abstract

Stacked displays hold the potential for accurate interpretation of multiple computed tomography (CT) studies on a low-cost workstation. But can such a display scroll as quickly as radiologists can move their eyes to the next image on a film? To address this question, eye-movement duration during CT chest interpretation was recorded using an electronic eye tracker. Adjacent eye movements (+/- 1 image in sequence) averaged 0.54 seconds. Time motion analysis indicates that a CT workstation using a stacked approach with a 0.2-second image display time and a simple interaction can display the next image in less than 0.4 seconds, so a stacked approach should allow a low-cost workstation to facilitate acceptable interpretation of multiple CT or magnetic resonance studies. However, nonadjacent eye movements is likely to take longer and radiologist behavior may be effected.