Soft-copy reading of digital chest radiographs: effect of ambient light and automatic optimization of monitor luminance.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to evaluate whether soft-copy reading of simulated pulmonary chest lesions is influenced by ambient light and automatic optimization of cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor luminance.


METHODS
Four types of simulated lesions (nodules, lines, micronodules, and patchy opacities) were superimposed over an anthropomorphic chest phantom. Lesion detection with soft-copy reading was assessed using a high-contrast grayscale 2K CRT monitor under the following conditions: (1) subdued lighting (<50 lux); (2) normal lighting conditions (450 lux) without, and (3) with a sensitivity modulation to automatically adjust the CRT luminance to the increased amount of ambient light. Reading data were analyzed according to receiver operating curve. Significance of differences was tested using an analysis of variance for repeated measures.


RESULTS
Ambient room light of 450 lux did not significantly influence the detection of nodules and patchy opacities. However, bright ambient light significantly decreased detection of micronodules (0.60 vs. 0.74) and lines (0.52 vs. 0.66) relative to subdued lighting conditions. Automatic luminance adjustment could compensate the effect of ambient light for the micronodules (0.77) but not for the lines (0.53).


CONCLUSIONS
Bright ambient light significantly decreases detection of small low-contrast structures. This may be partially but not completely compensated by an automatic luminance adaptation.
Uffmann
Martin
M
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria. martin.uffmann@univie.ac.at
Prokop
Mathias
M
Kupper
Walter
W
Mang
Thomas
T
Fiedler
Volker
V
Schaefer-Prokop
Cornelia
C
D003626:Data Display; D006801:Humans; D008029:Lighting; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D012372:ROC Curve; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*