• AI
  • Molecular Imaging
  • CT
  • X-Ray
  • Ultrasound
  • MRI
  • Facility Management
  • Mammography

Ambient Light Affects Image Interpretation

Article

When interpreting images on handheld devices, ambient light should be a consideration for accurate readings.

The quality of images interpreted by radiologists using mobile devices may be affected by ambient light, according to a study published in the Journal of Digital Imaging.

The availability of apps to allow for image interpretation has given radiologists the ability to access images wherever they are. However, even if a particular device has been accepted as a reliable tool, its effectiveness may change according to ambient lighting levels. Researchers from the University of Maryland undertook and observational study to determine if these effects were significant.

The researchers asked three subjects to detect and distinguish four characters embedded in a white-noise background using two current-generation smartphones. The setup included five illumination conditions simulating dark room (super- and medium-dark), office (average), and outdoor (medium- and super-bright) environments.

The researchers found that the darker the lighting, the better the quality of the image interpretation.

“We found and quantified that due to the high reflectivity of handheld devices, performance deteriorates as the user moves from dark areas into environments of greater ambient illumination,” the authors wrote. “The quantitative analysis suggests that differences in display reflection coefficients do not affect the low illumination performance of the device but rather the performance at higher levels of illumination.”

Recent Videos
Radiology Study Finds Increasing Rates of Non-Physician Practitioner Image Interpretation in Office Settings
Assessing a Landmark Change in CMS Reimbursement for Diagnostic Radiopharmaceuticals
Addressing the Early Impact of National Breast Density Notification for Mammography Reports
2 KOLs are featured in this series.
2 KOLs are featured in this series.
Can 18F-Floutufolastat Bolster Detection of PCa Recurrence in Patients with Low PSA Levels After Radical Prostatectomy?
2 KOLs are featured in this series.
2 KOLs are featured in this series.
2 KOLs are featured in this series.
2 KOLs are featured in this series.
Related Content
© 2024 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.