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. 2009 Aug;22(4):363-8.
doi: 10.1007/s10278-008-9156-6. Epub 2008 Sep 3.

Medical grade vs off-the-shelf color displays: influence on observer performance and visual search

Elizabeth A Krupinski  1
Affiliations

Medical grade vs off-the-shelf color displays: influence on observer performance and visual search

Elizabeth A Krupinski. J Digit Imaging. 2009 Aug.

Abstract

The goal of this study was to compare diagnostic accuracy of radiologists viewing clinical images on a top-of-the-line medical-grade vs a top-of-the-line commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) color display with the luminance values set to simulate a display that had been in use for 1 year. A set of 50 digital radiography chest images was selected for use in the study, half containing a solitary pulmonary nodule and half nodule-free. The images were displayed twice to each of six observers, once on each display. Eye position was recorded on a subset of the images. Overall, there was a statistically significant difference (F = 4.1496, p = 0.0471) between the medical-grade color display and the COTS color display in terms of receiver operating characteristic area under the curve values, with the medical-grade display yielding higher diagnostic accuracy. Total viewing time did not differ significantly, but eye position data revealed differences, suggesting better search and decision-making efficiency with the medical-grade display. Medical-grade color displays at 1 year old yield better diagnostic and search efficiency than COTS color displays and thus are recommended for primary reading if color displays are to be used.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Individual and mean ROC Az values for the medical-grade vs COTS color displays. Observers 1, 2, and 3 (left) are the radiologists, and observers 4, 5, and 6 (right) are the residents.
Fig 2
Fig 2
Individual and mean viewing times for medical-grade vs COTS color displays. Observers 1, 2, and 3 (left) are the radiologists, and observers 4, 5, and 6 (right) are the residents.
Fig 3
Fig 3
Mean total viewing times for medical-grade vs COTS color displays in the eye position study.
Fig 4
Fig 4
Mean time to first fixate the nodules (TP or FN decision) and non-nodule (FP) reported locations for medical-grade vs COTS color displays.
Fig 5
Fig 5
Mean cumulative dwell time for each decision (TP, FP, FN, TN) for medical-grade vs COTS color displays.
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