Program Information
Survey of Fluoroscopy Display Monitor Luminance
R Fisher*, K Wunderle , Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
Presentations
WE-RAM1-GePD-IT-5 (Wednesday, August 2, 2017) 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM Room: Imaging ePoster Theater
Purpose: Display monitor quality assurance, including the measurement of maximum luminance (Lmax), is a routine aspect of many imaging modalities. The ACR currently sets a minimum Lmax value of 90 cd/m² for acquisition monitors used by technologists in CT and MRI, while their technical standards suggest a minimum Lmax of 350 cd/m² for “monitors used for interpretation”. Fluoroscopic monitors do not currently fall under these requirements but are unique in that display monitors are used for interpretation during image-guided procedures. The aim of this study was to gather monitor Lmax values from a wide range of fluoroscopic equipment to compare to existing recommendations.
Methods: Monitor Lmax values were measured for 469 individual fluoroscopic display monitors on 258 pieces of equipment (many units are equipped with multiple monitors) over the course of annual testing. Measurements were obtained from R/F rooms, mobile C-arms, miniature C-arms, and interventional & cardiac suites.
Results: The mean Lmax across all monitors was 403.7 cd/m² with a coefficient of variation of 34%. Of the monitors tested, only one was below the 90 cd/m² ACR limit for acquisition displays, but 128 monitors (27% total) were below the recommended 350 cd/m² for interpretation monitors. Of the 142 monitors measured in 74 interventional suites, none measured below 90 cd/m², but 39% were below 350 cd/m². Additionally, interventional rooms now commonly come equipped with large display monitors, which rarely measured above 300 cd/m².
Conclusion: While most monitors were above the ACR acquisition workstation limit, a substantial portion in use were below the “interpretive monitor” recommendation. If fluoroscopic display monitors are to fall under regulatory oversight in the future, care must be exercised in setting failure thresholds specifically tailored to fluoroscopy’s unique characteristics or a potentially large number of monitors currently in use may need to be unnecessarily replaced.
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