A systematic review of viewing conditions and monitor specifications in mammography

Papathanasiou, S; Walton, LA; Thompson, JD

Abstract

Objectives

The purpose of this systematic review was to establish the current status of recommended monitor specifications and viewing conditions in mammography for image acquisition and reporting rooms. A literature search was completed between August 2018 and March 2019 using ScienceDirect, PubMed, Web of Science and MEDLINE databases. An additional manual search was performed to identify relevant guidelines to support the review. Only articles and guidelines written in English were included.

Key findings

Results were selected according to the following criteria; articles detailing (i) monitor specification and, (ii) viewing conditions in mammography acquisition and reporting rooms. Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria. Six papers described monitor specifications, five described viewing conditions and ten guideline documents were identified from the UK, Europe and the US. Common outcomes were that monitors with 3 or 5 MP resolution seemed to be preferred and at the same time higher illumination levels (>15 lux) were found to decrease the luminance of the monitors and negatively impact the assessment of image quality. Contrary to this, the majority of guideline documents recommended illumination levels above 20 Lux. Finally, there is a lack of guidance for viewing conditions in acquisition rooms.

Conclusion

This review did not reveal any strong evidence for the proposed room illumination levels in acquisition rooms. In reference to monitors specifications, there is preference for using higher resolution displays (3 and 5 MP) but again, the evidence is not strong. Moreover, variance exists in the guidelines and that promotes inconsistency in mammography departments.

Implications for practice

This review highlights the lack of standardised guidelines and the need for further research on the viewing conditions and monitor specifications for the acquisition rooms in mammography.

Citation

Papathanasiou, S., Walton, L., & Thompson, J. (2020). A systematic review of viewing conditions and monitor specifications in mammography. Radiography, 26(4), 325-331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2020.03.001

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 8, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Apr 15, 2020
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: Apr 23, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 15, 2021
• Journal: Radiography
• Print ISSN: 1078-8174
• Electronic ISSN: 1532-2831
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 325-331
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2020.03.001
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2020.03.001
• Related Public URLs: https://www.radiographyonline.com/
• Additional Information: Additional Information : ** Article version: AM ** Embargo end date: 31-12-9999 ** From Elsevier via Jisc Publications Router ** Licence for AM version of this article: This article is under embargo with an end date yet to be finalised. **Journal IDs: issn 10788174 **History: issue date 15-04-2020; accepted 08-03-2020