Characterizing Visual Analytics in Diagnostic Imaging

Abstract

Many necessary and desired improvements in healthcare are dependent on progress in medical imaging. As shown in this paper, the challenges targeted by visual analytics (VA) coincide with main challenges for radiologists' diagnostic work. Key prerequisites for VA in this application domain have been identified through analysis of a survey among 22 radiologists at a university hospital. Two major findings are that efficiency is perceived as the most challenging aspect of their diagnostic work and that an exploratory approach is necessary in everyday image review. The presented characterization constitutes a validated input for design of future VA research initiatives within medical imaging.