Subtle pulmonary abnormalities: detection on monitors with varying spatial resolutions and maximum luminance levels compared with detection on storage phosphor radiographic hard copies.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this receiver operating characteristic study was to compare diagnostic efficacy with images displayed on monitors of varying spatial resolutions and maximum luminance levels to that with storage phosphor radiographic hard copies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven types of simulated lesions were superimposed onto an anthropomorphic chest phantom. Images were viewed by five radiologists on a 2,560 x 2,048 pixel monitor (maximum luminance, 75 foot-lamberts), on two 1,024 x 1,024 monitors with maximum luminance levels of 25 foot-lamberts and 75 foot-lamberts, respectively, as well as on hard copies. Monitor images were viewed both without and with systematic magnification. RESULTS: Overall visualization of the lesions was best on hard copies, but visualization on the 2,560 x 2,048 monitor was not found to be substantially different. Lines, reticular opacifications, and catheters were found to be particularly poorly visualized with the 1,024 x 1,024 monitor. These results could be statistica...