Need for liquid–crystal display monitors having the capability of rendering higher than 8 bits in display-bit depth

Abstract

Our purpose in this study was to examine the potential usefulness of liquid-crystal display (LCD) monitors having the capability of rendering higher than 8 bits in display-bit depth. An LCD monitor having the capability of rendering 8, 10, and 12 bits was used. It was calibrated to the grayscale standard display function with a maximum luminance of 450 cd/m(2) and a minimum of 0.75 cd/m(2). For examining the grayscale resolution reported by ten observers, various simple test patterns having two different combinations of luminance in 8, 10, and 12 bits were randomly displayed on the LCD monitor. These patterns were placed on different uniform background luminance levels, such as 0, 50, and 100%, for maximum luminance. All observers participating in this study distinguished a smaller difference in luminance than one gray level in 8 bits irrespective of background luminance levels. As a result of the adaptation processes of the human visual system, observers distinguished a smaller difference in luminance as the luminance level of the test pattern was closer to the background. The smallest difference in luminance that observers distinguished was four gray levels in 12 bits, i.e., one gray level in 10 bits. Considering the results obtained by use of simple test patterns, medical images should ideally be displayed on LCD monitors having 10 bits or greater so that low-contrast objects with small differences in luminance can be detected and for providing a smooth gradation of grayscale.

Evaluation of diagnostic accuracy of intracranial aneurysm detection using medical-grade versus commercial consumer-grade displays and different image reconstructions against the background of process optimization for telemedicine

“…It may be reasonable to assume that medical-grade displays offer an advantage when radiologists need to identify low-contrast objects, which requires maximal display performance (3,20). Another study directly addressed this issue by investigating the presence or absence of subtle low-contrast bone fissures on medical-graded versus calibrated consumer-grade displays and also reported no significant difference, concluding that calibrated consumer-grade displays may be sufficient for most radiological examinations (3).…”

Tablets as an Option for Telemedicine—Evaluation of Diagnostic Performance and Efficiency in Intracranial Arterial Aneurysm Detection

“…Medical-grade displays can be expected to provide an advantage when radiologists need to detect low-contrast objects, which requires maximum display performance [ 2 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Most studies published to date provide only quantitative accuracy data, while we also tried to include subjective impressions of our readers, which they rated on Likert scales.…”

DICOM part 14: GSDF-calibrated medical grade monitorvsa DICOM part 14: GSDF-calibrated “commercial off-the-shelf” (COTS) monitor for viewing 8-bit dental images

“…19 It also highlights the fact that the high luminance monitors that are now available for clinical applications in dentistry as well as COTS monitors that are also used for this purpose should make the best use of the JNDs within their range, and this can be achieved by calibrating them to the DICOM part 14: GSDF. 2 In an interesting investigation by Hiwasa et al, 20 where the greyscale resolution of monitors was investigated by displaying simple test patterns having various grey levels in 8, 10 and 12 bits on a DICOM part 14: GSDF-calibrated LCD monitor, they found that the observers were able to distinguish more grey levels as the bit depth was increased. However, Bender et al 21 found that even though the higher greyscale resolution results in a more complete visualization of image information, radiologists partially judged this as a lack of sharpness and contrast and generally preferred the 8-bit display.…”