Technical and radiological image quality comparison of different liquid crystal displays for radiology.
BACKGROUND
To inform cost-effective decisions in purchasing new medical liquid crystal displays, we compared the image quality in displays made by three manufacturers.


METHODS
We recruited 19 radiologists and residents to compare the image quality of four liquid crystal displays, including 3-megapixel Barco(®), Eizo(®), and NEC(®) displays and a 6-megapixel Barco display. The evaluators were blinded to the manufacturers' names. Technical assessments were based on acceptance criteria and test patterns proposed by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine. Radiological assessments were performed on images from the American Association of Physicists in Medicine Task Group 18. They included X-ray images of the thorax, knee, and breast, a computed tomographic image of the thorax, and a magnetic resonance image of the brain. Image quality was scored on an analog scale (range 0-10). Statistical analysis was performed with repeated-measures analysis of variance.


RESULTS
The Barco 3-megapixel display passed all acceptance criteria. The Eizo and NEC displays passed the acceptance criteria, except for the darkest pixel value in the grayscale display function. The Barco 6-megapixel display failed criteria for the maximum luminance response and the veiling glare. Mean radiological assessment scores were 7.8±1.1 (Barco 3-megapixel), 7.8±1.2 (Eizo), 8.1±1.0 (NEC), and 8.1±1.0 (Barco 6-megapixel). No significant differences were found between displays.


CONCLUSIONS
According to the tested criteria, all the displays had comparable image quality; however, there was a three-fold difference in price between the most and least expensive displays.
Department of Radiology, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Francina Em
FE
Dams
Medical Physics and Technology, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
K Y Esther
KY
Leung
Department of Radiology, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Pieter Hm
PH
van der Valk
Department of Radiology, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Marc Cjm
MC
Kock
Medical Physics and Technology, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Jeroen
J
Bosman
Medical Physics and Technology, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Sjoerd P
SP
Niehof
data display; humans; liquid crystals; radiographic image enhancement; user-computer interface