Abstract
Purpose:Use of color images in medical imaging has increased significantly the last few years. There is no agreement yet on what is an appropriate visualization framework for color medical images. This lack of standardization results into large variability of color appearance and makes consistency and quality assurance a challenge. The ICC Medical‐Imaging‐Working‐Group (MIWG) has defined recommendations for visualization of medical content on color display systems, whereby DICOM GSDF images, pseudo color images and color accurate images can all be presented effectively on the same display.Methods:The MIWG characterized a wide range of color display systems (consumer, professional and medical), and collected representative greyscale and color medical images. Simulations and bench testing was done to quantitatively compare the performance of various architectures and imaging pipelines in an ICC framework context. This allowed making recommendations on imaging pipeline architectures, and defining minimum requirements to guarantee minimum performance levels.Results:The ICC framework specification supports many possible architectures, profile types and pipeline characteristics. Numerous experiments have been performed to understand the effects related to choice of System design choices such as architecture, profile type (matrix, LUT, device, …) and pipeline specifications (eg. bit depth, LUT size). The impact of inaccurate estimation of display luminance/contrast/tone rendering curve has also been studied. Specific recommendations have been made related to system configuration, ICC framework/CMM, and calibration process.Conclusion:There is a need to standardize how medical color images need to be visualized. The ICC Medical Imaging Working Group has defined recommendations for visualization of medical content on color display systems. It has been shown that it is possible to achieve accurate greyscale, pseudo color and absolute color visualization of medical images by means of the ICC framework, at least when appropriate choices are made related to profile specification, imaging pipeline and calibration procedure.Tom Kimpe, employee Barco NV
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
