Three-dimensional image display without special eyeglasses: observation of magnetic resonance angiography using the...

The authors have developed a new stereoscopic liquid crystal display that provides real-time 3-dimensional image viewing without special eyeglasses. The device consists of 3 major parts: (1) an image display composed of a 10.4-inch color liquid crystal plate with a resolution of 640 x 480, (2) an automatic head tracking system, and (3) a special backlight unit for the right and left eyes. Eight radiologists interpreted 60 cases of magnetic resonance angiography (29 cases of cerebrovascular disease and 31 normal cases) to compare film display and the liquid crystal display (ie, pseudo 3-dimensional display and true 3-dimensional display). Using a continuously distributed scale ranging from 0% to 100%, the observers ranked their confidence levels in determining the presence or absence of steno-occlusive disease, aneurysm, and arteriovenous malformation (AVM) and their locations. For statistical evaluation, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and Brier score were used. For detecting AVM, film reading showed a significantly higher value in the area under the binormal ROC curve (Az) than did pseudo-3-dimensional display (P < .05). Excluding this, however, no significant difference existed in Az values among the 3 viewing methods. Also, there was no significant difference in Brier score between not only the stereoscopic view and nonstereoscopic view groups, but also the senior and junior groups. Subjective estimation of true 3-dimensional display showed that vessels were more distinguishable with less eye fatigue compared with stereoscopic film reading. The stereoscopic liquid crystal display provided almost equal efficacy to film reading; however, the short optimum distance for observation and the low resolution should be improved.