The Yellow Scale Is Superior to the Gray Scale for Detecting Acute Ischemic Stroke on a Monitor Display in Computed Tomography.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of the color scale with regard to focal detection with computed tomography in acute ischemic stroke.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Computed tomography images of the brain of 19 patients diagnosed with acute stroke, based on magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted images obtained within an onset of 24 hours, and the images of five normal patients were displayed in each color look-up table on a monitor. The detection of acute stroke was compared among 15 radiologists. The images were compared in the gray, green, yellow, red, and blue scales of the look-up tables. The observers recorded acute ischemic stroke as "present" or "absent." They also located the position of the stroke lesion and described the degree of their conviction as to whether a lesion existed. Detection was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves was compared. In addition, reduced fatigue and the ease in image observation were compared.

RESULTS: Compared to the other scales, the yellow scale had a significantly higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, which indicated that this scale allowed better detection of acute ischemic stroke. The gray scale produced the least fatigue in image observation.

CONCLUSIONS: The detection of acute ischemic stroke is improved by changing the display monitor from the gray scale to the yellow scale. From the perspective of color psychology, yellow is associated with higher arousal, cheerfulness, confidence, creativity, and excitement. Therefore, the yellow scale may be suitable for a medical imaging display.