Study of performance of LCD display devices in radiology with digital imaging

The performance of display devices plays a significant role in the overall image quality of a digital radiographic system. Then, in a filmless environment it is necessary to implement acceptance and constancy tests on display devices used for interpretation of medical images. The objective of this study was to compare the performance of the five different commercial liquid crystal displays (LCD): four primary class (3 MP and 5 MP) and a secondary class (1,24 MP). These tests were executed following AAPM Report 03. The evaluation of test pattern considered these parameters: geometric distortions, luminance uniformity and response, contrast, reflections, resolution, and noise. The results indicated that the differences among the four primary class displays devices are small. Nonetheless, Eizo 3 MP showed superiority over all the others in maximum luminance and resolution similar to 5 MP displays. The secondary class showed reduced response compared with primary class in maximum luminance, resolution, noise and reflection. These measurements form a necessary step to characterizing a display device and decided what display device had a optimal behavior to each medical application. Displays devices that are in clinical (primary class) use should be evaluated on a regular basis to assurance that they maintain a minimum performance level. (author)