Why signs of breast cancer are missed on 2D and 3D mammograms
Cognitive Science to Radiology: Using EEG and Eye-tracking to Determine Why, How, and When Novices and Radiologists Miss Signs of Breast Cancer in Multiple-abnormality Mammography and Tomosynthesis
Researchers are combining brain recordings (EEG) and eye-tracking to learn why doctors and trainees sometimes miss breast cancer on mammograms and tomosynthesis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11177882 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project brings cognitive science methods to radiology to study "satisfaction of search," where finding one abnormality makes readers miss another. The team will record eye movements and brain activity (EEG) while novices and experienced radiologists read 2-D mammograms and 3-D tomosynthesis images that contain multiple abnormalities. They will compare how imaging technology, reader expertise, and search strategies affect miss rates and test ways to reduce those errors. The work uses real clinical images in lab sessions to link attention patterns and neural signals to missed cancers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project mainly seeks radiologists, radiology trainees, and other clinicians who routinely read mammograms rather than patients with breast cancer.
Not a fit: People with breast cancer should not expect direct medical or treatment benefits from participating, since the study focuses on reader behavior and image interpretation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reduce missed breast cancers by improving imaging practices, reader training, and how clinicians search images.
How similar studies have performed: Prior eye-tracking and cognitive studies have helped explain visual search errors in radiology, but combining EEG and eye-tracking specifically to study satisfaction of search in breast imaging is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Tucson, United States
- University of Arizona — Tucson, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Adamo, Stephen — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Adamo, Stephen
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.