Document Detail


Inference and uncertainty in radiology.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16627199     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
This paper seeks to enhance understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of our discipline and the resulting practical implications. Radiology reports exist in order to convey new knowledge about a patient's condition based on empiric observations from anatomic or functional images of the body. The route to explanation and prediction from empiric evidence is mostly through inference based on inductive (and sometimes abductive) arguments. The conclusions of inductive arguments are, by definition, contingent and provisional. Therefore, it is necessary to deal in some way with the uncertainty of inferential conclusions (i.e. interpretations) made in radiology reports. Two paradigms for managing uncertainty in natural sciences exist in dialectic tension with each other. These are the frequentist and Bayesian theories of probability. Tension between them is mirrored during routine interactions among radiologists and clinicians. I will describe these core issues and argue that they are quite relevant to routine image interpretation and reporting.
Authors:
Chris Sistrom
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Academic radiology     Volume:  13     ISSN:  1076-6332     ISO Abbreviation:  Acad Radiol     Publication Date:  2006 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2006-04-21     Completed Date:  2006-10-27     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9440159     Medline TA:  Acad Radiol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  580-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Radiology, University of Florida Health Center, P.O. Box 100374, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. sistrc@radiology.ufl.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Bayes Theorem
Causality
Decision Making*
Decision Theory*
Epidemiology*
Evidence-Based Medicine*
Mental Processes*
Models, Statistical*
Radiology*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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