Monitor and DICOM viewer comparison for mammographic image quality

Full text: There are a number of freely available software applications for viewing DICOM images. The aim of this work was to determine whether the choice of viewing software, or the monitor resolution, affects the score of a mammographic image quality phantom. Method An image of the ACR Accreditation phantom was acquired on a Siemens Mammomat 1000 X-ray unit using Fuji CR. Four medical physicists used seven different free DICOM viewers to score this image. Additionally, two physicists used Image] to score this image on 1.2, 1.8 and 3 MP monitors using a range of magnifications. Results The phantom scores for fibres, specks and masses differed by no more than half a group between the different DICOM viewers and observers. Similarly, the resolution of the monitor had no effect on the phantom score. However, scores were notably affected b zoom used. Conclusions While the choice of DICOM viewer d phantom scores, the best DICOM viewers were Image Free, based on functionality and ease of use. It is recommended that for a given monitor, the image should be scaled so that image match the monitor resolution at I:I. Standardised essential for consistent scoring of phantom images.