Could standardizing "commercial off-the-shelf" (COTS) monitors to the DICOM part 14: GSDF improve the presentation of dental images? A visual grading characteristics analysis.

Objectives: To investigate whether standardizing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) display devices to the digital imaging and communications in medicine part 14: greyscale standard display function (DICOM part 14: GSDF) would affect the presentation of dental images. Methods: Two COTS display devices from the radiology department of a dental teaching hospital and a laptop computer monitor for reference were calibrated to conform to DICOM part 14: GSDF. Four dental surgeons and two final-year students undertook a relative visual grading analysis of the two devices before and after calibration, under control of the viewing environment. Results: Calibrating COTS display devices to conform to the DICOM part 14: GSDF and viewing under reduced ambient light result in a consistent, perceived visual sensation for the presented radiological image. The area under the visual grading characteristics curve (AUC_VGV) before calibration is 0.62 CI (0.56, 0.68) and AUC_VGC after calibration is 0.51 CI (0.45, 0.57). Conclusions: Standardizing COTS display devices to the DICOM part 14: GSDF can improve image presentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]