Impact of Color Calibration on Breast Biopsy Whole Slide Image Interpretation Accuracy and Efficiency

摘要

Color LCD use is increasing in medical imaging especially in applications like telepathology. Standardized methods for calibrating, characterizing and profiling color displays have not been created. We used a validated calibration, characterization and profiling protocol for color medical imaging applications to determine if it impacts performance accuracy and interpretation time. 250 breast biopsy whole slide image (WSI) areas (half malignant, half benign) were displayed to 6 pathologists. In one condition the calibration protocol was used and in the other the same display was un-calibrated. Receiver Operating Characteristic area under the curve (Az) with the calibrated display was 0.8570 and with the un-calibrated one was 0.8488 (p = 0.4112). For interpretation time, the mean with the calibrated display was 4.895 sec and with the un-calibrated display was 6.304 sec (p = 0.0460). There is an advantage diagnostically using a properly calibrated and color-managed display and a significant advantage for potentially improving workflow via reduced viewing times.