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Comparing the Subsequent Search Miss Effect Between Mammography and Tomosynthesis

  • Brandon Eich
  • , Lyndon Rakusen
  • , Miguel Lago
  • , Claudia Mello-Thoms
  • , Stephen H. Adamo

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

The Subsequent Search Miss (SSM) effect occurs when detecting one abnormality lowers the chance of finding an additional one in the same image. SSM errors occur in both digital mammography (DM) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), but no prior work has directly compared their error rates. We compared SSMs between novices and experts with virtual DM and DBT images generated with the VICTRE pipeline. Participants searched for up to two masses and had their eye movements tracked to better understand why SSMs occurred. Novices made SSMs in both DM and DBT, while experts only made them in DM. SSMs were categorized as scanning errors (mass never fixated), perceptual errors (mass fixated for <1 second and not reported), or decision errors (mass fixated for >1 second and not reported). Scanning errors occurred more frequently in DBT, but perceptual errors accounted for most SSMs in DM, with a similar pattern of errors observed for both novices and experts when a mass was fixated. Overall, DBT improved detection and minimized SSM errors compared to DM, but errors still occurred, suggesting that while DBT imaging may mitigate SSM errors, they remain a source of errors in cancer screening.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationMedical Imaging 2026
Subtitle of host publicationImage Perception, Observer Performance, and Technology Assessment
EditorsMark A. Anastasio, Jovan G. Brankov
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510697935
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 3 2026
EventMedical Imaging 2026: Image Perception, Observer Performance, and Technology Assessment - Vancouver, Canada
Duration: Feb 17 2026 → Feb 19 2026

Publication series

NameProgress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE
Volume13928
ISSN (Print)1605-7422
ISSN (Electronic)2410-9045

Conference

ConferenceMedical Imaging 2026: Image Perception, Observer Performance, and Technology Assessment
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityVancouver
Period2/17/26 → 2/19/26

Keywords

  • Breast Cancer
  • Eye-tracking
  • Mammography
  • Satisfaction of Search
  • Subsequent Search Miss
  • Taxonomy of Errors
  • Tomosynthesis
  • Visual Search

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Biomaterials
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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