High-Resolution PACS Work station: Diagnostic Performance and Comparison with Laser-Printed CR Films in Chest Diseases

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To compare the diagnostic performance of a high-resolution picture archiving and communications system (PACS) workstation directly interfaced with computed radiography(CR) with laser-printed CR films in chest diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chest radiographs with (n=91) and without (n=25) abnormalities were included. Atotal of 100 abnormalities from 91 radiographs consisted of irregular lines, pneumothoraces, nodules and consolidations (25 of each). Laser-printed hard copies with dynamic range compression (DRC) were produced. InPACS, soft copies of 1760 X 2140 X 10 bits CR images were displayed on 1536 X 2048 with 8 bit gray-scale monitors.The performance of four observers was compared between laser-printed hard copies and CR images displayed on a workstation according to receiver operating characteristic analysis. RESULTS: Overall, no significant difference sin observer performance were observed between laser-printed hard copies and CR images displayed on a workstation(p=.2454). Even though statistically not significant, the former was slightly superior to the latter for lesions of irregular lines, pneumothoraces, and consolidations, whereas for nodules, the latter was slightly better than the former. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic performance of a high-resolution PACS workstation in chest radiographs is acceptable and comparable to CR hard copies printed with DRC processing mode.