Model Observer in Digital Mammography

Several test objects containing details of varying diameter and contrast have been adopted in a variety of QC protocols in order to assess this capability of mammo-graphic systems. 

One widely adopted phantom is the CDMAM phantom ver. 3.4 or later (Artinis, The Netherlands) with automated image evaluation (CDCOM, Euref) and psychometric correction in order to take the effect of the human observer into account. 

However, besides requiring a costly phantom, the routine use of the CDMAM phantom is very time consuming because several (recommended 16) identical phantom images must be acquired for each exposure condition.