Editor’s Note: If you’re looking for a imaging monitor for work from home, look here.
Monitors for radiology and medical use are rare and quite expensive, so they are usually reserved for bulk or corporate purchases. The display industry has come up with very specific products to fill several niches, but this category isn’t very popular in the retail market since its mostly hospitals that procure them. The good news is there are some qualified consumer-grade monitors which are suitable for clinics, offices, and dental suites, with more practical prices and widespread availability. We give credit to Hirschorn et al J Am Coll Radiol. 2014 Dec;11(12 Pt B):1270-6 for their helpful article on the subject (paywall).
Monitors for radiology and medical use have no functional differences aside from a few specific characteristics over your gaming or office display. Every model out there is suitable, but not every last one is ideal. Here’s a guide on how to pick monitors for radiology, medical use, and dental offices.
Updated: Spring 2024
Monitors for Radiology Important Specifications
All monitors are compatible since radiologic outputs such as mammograms or x-rays are now viewed on standard PCs or workstations along with the classic films. However, there are a few standards prescribed by PACS guidelines which should help in selecting monitors for radiology and medical use.
Size and Resolution – A monitor’s size and resolution dictates how sharp or clear images will be so it is crucial in radiology or medical use. PACS standards prescribe a minimum of two megapixels which is equivalent to a 1920 x 1080 display or higher depending on screen size. However, what’s more important is the pixel pitch or PPI which is the determining factor of how much details can be seen when viewing a digitized scan or x-ray.
PACS or Picture Archiving and Communication System standards dictate that a workstation for laboratories or radiology departments should sit 19” to 27” monitors with a pixel pitch of 195-273. Consultation monitors should be at least 30 inches with a pixel pitch of 312. Display products with this kind of screen aren’t common, so it’s best to choose a consumer-grade model that is as close as possible.
Brightness and Panel Uniformity – PACS standards suggest that specified commercial monitors for radiology and medical use should have a luminance level greater than 350 cd/m2 to around 420 cd/m2. The chosen product must be able to keep this level up at all times with a deviation of no less than 15% on the quadrants of the screen. Designer monitors with brightness compensation technologies are out of the question since the deviances could be higher than the prescribed limit.
The reason for this is because radiologic images may contain up to 256 shades of gray that has near-white points which may disappear if the screen is too dim or too bright. Setting a monitor above the mentioned limit will also conceal these tiny details which may spell the difference between accuracy and misdiagnosing a patient.
Calibration – Radiologic images require even transitions from black to white to show subtle details such as scans of upper abdominal contents of the liver or spleen or microcalcifications that indicate breast cancer. Diagnostic accuracy is increased with a monitor that is calibrated for the DICOM GSDF format. This method, however, isn’t widely available in most monitor OSDs including those on prosumer variants with various color filters.
As such, it is advisable to choose monitors for radiology and medical use which have hardware calibration compatibilities for superb accuracy. You will also need a trusted colorimeter and the right application to apply the proper adjustments regularly.
The Best Monitors for Reading X-Rays and Medical Use
LG LED 27HJ712C-W
The LG LED 27HJ712C-W is probably the best pick out of the lot simply because it’s specifically made for radiology. It looks like most of the brand’s LG monitors, so you can pair it up with their regular 4K displays for multitasking. It offers excellent contrast and brightness, along with DICOM 14 compatibility, making it the best pick for radiology that doesn’t cost over two grand.
Dell S2419H
The Dell S2419H offers an excellent package that make it a suitable entry-level option among the suitable monitors for radiology and medical use. The display features a decent IPS panel that is capable of excellent color and contrast along with a backlight that peaks at starts at 250 cd/m2 which is the bare minimum most would set and peaks at 400 cd/m2. This value model is also one of the best-designed when it comes to aesthetics, making it an attractive budget option for clinics and medical students.
ViewSonic VP2468
The ViewSonic VP2468 has been around for some time, but it’s one of the few affordable ones that have a DICOM SIM mode. It’s a factory-calibrated 1080p monitor, so it’s going to be accurate out of the box. It is built well and priced low, so it’s a good starting point if you are studying radiology or anything similar.
ViewSonic VP3268-4K
The ViewSonic VP3268-4K is your upgrade from the option above since it has a larger, 32-inch 4K display. It’s factory calibrated as well, and it includes a DICOM-based filter, so it’s highly suitable for radiology use. It is built well and equipped with plenty of features, so you can get more out of it even if it’s a bit more expensive.
NEC PA243W
The NEC PA243W is an expensive WUXGA (1920 x 1200) professional monitor with a wide gamut, but it’s one of the few commercially available models out there that is capable of hardware calibration which will allow its users to set a DICOM GSDF profile with a colorimeter. NEC is a well-known brand in the business electronics market, so you can rest assured that the product will receive excellent support and usability for years to come.
Eizo FlexScan EV2785
The Eizo FlexScan EV2785 is one of the most sophisticated business monitors we have tested, thanks to its brilliant features and excellent quality. The IPS screen is capable of excellent accuracy and contrast, making it a suitable choice for viewing X-rays and mammograms. The backlight for this unit is rated at 350 cd/m2, but testing revealed that it could actually reach a searing 497 cd/m2 at max power.
Apple Studio Display
The Apple Studio Display is a staple pick for professionals who want fantastic image quality. It features a pre-calibrated Retina display that’s perfect for all types of prosumer use. Its built-well and made to work flawlessly with Apple’s computers, so its a good option if you use MacBooks for your practice.
Dell U3219Q
The Dell U3219Q is one of the best 4K monitors in its category due to its tight factory calibration and which includes good grayscale and contrast performance. The 4K screen is sharp and well-detailed which makes this an excellent platform for consultations or viewing scans and x-rays. The Dell U3219Q is equipped with ideal features such as USB-C for the latest workstations, ensuring that it is suitable for clinical use for years to come.
Note: You can check out this article for more X-ray monitor options