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Effects of Luminance and Resolution on Observer Performance with Chest Radiographs¹

¹ From the Departments of Radiology (J.M.H., T.M.B., W.L.C., J.H.S., D.G.) and Biostatistics (H.E.R.), University of Pittsburgh, A443 Scaife Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15261-0001. Received March 9, 1999; revision requested May 12; revision received June 22; accepted August 25. Supported in part by grant no. CA58283 from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. Address reprint requests to J.M.H. (e-mail: jherron@neuronet.pitt.edu).

PURPOSE: To examine the combined effects of image resolution and display luminance on observer performance for detection of abnormalities depicted on posteroanterior chest radiographs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 529 radiographs were displayed on a specially constructed view box at three luminance levels (770, 260, and 85 cd/m²) and three resolutions (100-µm, 200-µm, and 400-µm pixels). Each image was reviewed nine times by six radiologists who participated in this study. The abnormalities included nodule, pneumothorax, interstitial disease, alveolar infiltrates, and rib fracture. Negative (normal) radiographs were also included.

REULTS: Receiver operating characteristic curves indicated that the effect of image luminance was greater than that of resolution. The detection of pneumothorax, interstitial disease, and rib fracture showed statistically significant differences (P < .05) due to luminance. The detection of pneumothorax was the only abnormality with a statistically significant difference due to resolution. There was no evidence that luminance was related to image resolution for any of the abnormalities.

CONCLUSION: At a resolution of 400-µm pixels or higher across the field of view and a luminance of 260 cd/m² or more, primary diagnosis with posteroanterior chest radiographs is not likely to be affected by the quality of display.

Index terms: Diagnostic radiology, observer performance • Images, display • Lung, diseases, 60.916, 60.917 • Lung, neoplasms, 60.31 • Pneumothorax, 60.73 • Ribs, fracture, 471.41

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