Tom Kimpe PhD, Presenter: Employee, Barco nv

Albert Xthona, Abstract Co-Author: Employee, Barco nv

This paper has shown that calibrating medical color displays to DICOM GSDF or sRGB does not offer sufficiently stable nor perceptally linear color behavior. CSDF, a recently proposed extension to DICOM GSDF offers a better reproducible color behavior with improved perceptual linearity. The differences between the three calibration targets result into visible differences for several types of medical images.  

Use of color images has increased significantly the last few years. Sometimes color is only used for annotations but in other cases color is clinically relevant eg. for fused multimodality images or quantitative imaging. There is no standard yet for color calibration and QA on medical displays. The de facto situation today is that color displays are calibrated to DICOM GSDF (which only standardizes greyscale behavior and leaves color unstabilized). Sometimes also (consumer level) sRGB displays are used for visualization of color medical images.

This paper evaluates whether DICOM GSDF and sRGB offer sufficient stability and quality for visualization of color medical images. Recently a color extension to DICOM GSDF has been proposed: CSDF. Color performance of CSDF will also be evaluated and compared with GSDF and sRGB. As a first step the current situation will be explained by clearly describing what the color behavior is of medical displays calibrated to DICOM GSDF or sRGB and how CSDF differs. Secondly, metrics for color stability, as well as perceptual linearity of color will be reported. Finally the impact of the calibration algorithm (GSDF vs sRGB vs CSDF) will be visually shown and quantified for different types of medical images. 

Measurement data of a large sample of medical color displays shows that significant color instabilities remain with DICOM GSDF or sRGB. Variability in color behavior even between display systems of the same type can easily be tens of percents.  CSDF offers much more stable color behavior as proven by improved metrics for perceptual linearity. Visual differences between the three calibration targets are large and easily perceivable on medical images.    

Kimpe, T, Xthona, A, Are Medical Displays Calibrated to GSDF or sRGB Sufficient for High Quality Visualization of Color Medical Images?.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14009222.html