Visual search patterns in 3D pancreatic imaging: an eye tracking study

Anna Anikina; Leila Khaertdinova; Trine Balschmidt; Michael B. Andersen; Christoph F. Müller; Erik G. S. Brandt; Henrik S. Thomsen; Claudia Mello-Thoms; Bulat Ibragimov

doi:10.1117/12.3086082

Conference proceeding

Visual search patterns in 3D pancreatic imaging: an eye tracking study

Anna Anikina, Leila Khaertdinova, Trine Balschmidt, Michael B. Andersen, Christoph F. Müller, Erik G. S. Brandt, Henrik S. Thomsen, Claudia Mello-Thoms and Bulat Ibragimov

Vol.13928, pp.1392814-1392814-5

04/02/2026

DOI: 10.1117/12.3086082

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Abstract

Eye tracking has emerged as a powerful tool for examining visual perception and search strategies in various domains, including medicine. While it is relatively straightforward to apply in 2D settings, its use in 3D medical imaging remains challenging and not yet well explored. This gap is particularly relevant for radiology, where volumetric images such as computed tomography (CT) scans are routinely read by medical experts. Radiologists typically interpret these images by navigating through hundreds of 2D slices, most often viewed in the axial projection. A taxonomy of eye movement data during navigation through a CT volume could be valuable to understand how radiologists approach diagnostic tasks. As an example of the derived taxonomy, we asked two radiologists to search abdominal CTs of the pancreas. We collect eye tracking data and align eye gaze movements with slice navigation to visualize the representation of the pancreas through volume and analyze clinicians’ gaze behavior in both space and time.

eye tracking

visual search strategies

pancreas

CT images

Details

Title: Subtitle: Visual search patterns in 3D pancreatic imaging: an eye tracking study
Creators: Anna Anikina - University of Copenhagen
Leila Khaertdinova - University of Copenhagen
Trine Balschmidt - Herlev Hospital
Michael B. Andersen - Herlev Hospital
Christoph F. Müller - Herlev Hospital
Erik G. S. Brandt - Herlev Hospital
Henrik S. Thomsen - Herlev Hospital
Claudia Mello-Thoms - University of Iowa
Bulat Ibragimov - University of Copenhagen
Contributors: Mark A. Anastasio (Editor) - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Jovan G. Brankov (Editor) - Illinois Institute of Technology
Resource Type: Conference proceeding
Publication Details: Vol.13928, pp.1392814-1392814-5
DOI: 10.1117/12.3086082
ISSN: 1605-7422
Publisher: SPIE
Language: English
Date published: 04/02/2026
Academic Unit: Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Radiology
Record Identifier: 9985157612602771

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