Image compression and feature stabilization of dynamically displayed coronary angiograms

Eigler et al (1994) proposed an optimized display for coronary angiograms where each image of the sequence is digitally shifted so that the feature of interest within an artery remains fixed at the center of the screen and the background moves (stabilized display). We measure the effect of JPEG and CREW (a wavelet-based software) image compression on the detectability of a simulated morphological feature (filling defect) for the stabilized display and compare it to the conventional moving artery display. Our results show that 15:1 compressed JPEG for the stabilized display and the moving artery display does not significantly degrade human performance but a 19:1 CREW did. The stabilized display significantly improved performance with respect to the conventional moving artery display for the uncompressed and the 15:1 JPEG but not for the 19:1 CREW.