answer is: choose professional medical monitors, regularly calibrate the equipment, adjust the software and hardware settings, and keep a good diagnostic environment.
Today, with the fast growth of digital medical imaging, PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) has become the “central nerve” of modern medical diagnosis. Imagine three senior radiologists sitting together at a multi-screen consultation center, discussing a 3D reconstruction of a lung CT scan. They may not realize that small color differences on the six monitors in front of them could quietly affect their judgment of the density of a ground-glass nodule. These tiny differences might lead to missing early lung cancer or mistakenly treating a harmless issue too seriously. This article will explore how to achieve “pixel-level” color consistency in a PACS multi-screen consultation through systematic solutions.
Clinical Cost of Color Deviation
In medical imaging diagnosis, the color accuracy of monitors directly affects how accurate the diagnosis is. According to Part 14 of the DICOM standard, monitors must correctly show brightness levels from 0 to 4095. If the brightness difference is over 10% or the color temperature is off by more than 500K, it can change how our eyes see contrast and make it harder to judge tissue density.
A study from a top-level hospital showed that uncalibrated monitors lowered the detection rate of tiny calcium clusters in mammograms by 23% and increased mistakes in judging liver CT scans during the arterial phase by 18%. These mistakes happen because of differences in equipment. Medical monitors use hardware LUTs (Lookup Tables) to match the DICOM GSDF (Grayscale Standard Display Function) curve, while regular monitors use sRGB, which can compress grayscale.
Even if one monitor is calibrated correctly, using multiple screens together can still cause problems. Differences in color range (72% NTSC vs. 92%), maximum brightness (1000 cd/m² vs. 600 cd/m²), and backlight uniformity (±5% vs. ±15%) can lead to color differences that affect diagnosis.
The manifestation and impact of color consistency issues in multi-screen consultation
In multi-screen consultations, the same patient’s images may be viewed by several doctors at the same time. If the monitors show colors differently, it can affect how doctors see the image details, leading to mistakes in diagnosis. Common problems with color consistency include:
1，Grayscale display is inconsistent
The grayscale display of medical images is directly related to identifying health issues. If the grayscale is not consistent, small problems might be missed or misjudged.
2，Color temperature and brightness difference
Different monitors’ color temperature and brightness settings can make images too bright or too dark, affecting contrast and the accuracy of observing lesions.
3，Display aging or improper parameters
Monitors used for a long time may have brightness loss and color shifts, causing color distortion. Also, incorrect graphics card settings and the color management policies of the operating system can lead to color errors.
These problems can lead to differences in how doctors understand the images. They can also affect communication between healthcare professionals during multi-disciplinary consultations, increasing the risk of diagnostic mistakes.
Key technologies to solve color consistency issues
To solve the color consistency problem in multi-screen consultations of a PACS system, we need to make improvements in hardware, software, and the diagnostic environment.
1，Hardware optimization: professional medical monitors and regular calibration
Pick medical screens that meet the DICOM Part 14 standard (a rule for medical displays). These screens can show more shades of gray and keep the brightness steady, so doctors can see all the details clearly. Also, use special tools to check and adjust the colors and brightness of the screens regularly. This helps stop the colors from looking wrong as the screens get older.
2，Software optimization: color management and standardized calibration
Make sure the PACS system (the medical image system) and the computer’s color settings work together. Adjust the graphics card’s color depth, brightness, and contrast so the images follow the DICOM standard (a rule for medical images). Also, use special tools like ICC color profiles and DICOM calibration tools to make sure the colors look the same on all devices.
3，Environmental optimization: light source control and observation conditions
Keep the light in the diagnosis room steady and not too bright. Make sure no strong light shines directly on the screens, as this can mess up how the images look. Also, doctors should sit at the right distance and angle when looking at the screens, so everyone sees the colors the same way.
Making sure the colors look the same on all screens in a PACS system is very important for accurate diagnoses and clear communication between doctors. By using professional screens, managing colors correctly, and setting up a good diagnosis room, the quality of group discussions about medical images can be greatly improved. In the future, smart and automatic technology will help keep colors consistent, making medical image diagnoses even more precise and reliable.
