Direct Computer Diagnosis of Rheumatic Heart Disease

The authors briefly describe their experiences in the computer screening of 14 × 17-inch chest radiographs and the identification of cardiac abnormalities. The computer identified the cardiac silhouette, measured its important parameters, and applied discriminant function analysis techniques to decide whether or not the heart was within normal limits; if not, the computer reported the likely type of abnormality within the spectrum of rheumatic valvular disease. With the use of the test library of normals and cases of rheumatic heart disease, the computer had a higher overall accuracy than the radiologists viewing the same library of proved cases.