Inter-observer agreement of paranasal sinus computed tomography scans.

Inter-observer agreement of paranasal sinus computed tomography scans.

Acta Otolaryngol. 2016 Dec 16;:1-7

Authors: Julkunen A, Terna E, Numminen J, Markkola A, Dastidar P, Karjalainen M, Huhtala H, Rautiainen M, Meurman J, Toppila-Salmi S

Abstract
CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated considerable inter-observer variation in certain surgically important structures. This would indicate the significance for consultation when evaluating sinus CT scans of CRS patients for planned advanced sinus surgery.
OBJECTIVES: After the failure of medical treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), the need for surgery and the pre-operative planning of safe surgery is based on computed tomography (CT) findings. The aim of this prospective study was to compare inter-observer agreement of anatomical and surgical structures of sinus CT scans. The hypothesis was that the agreement between observers is good.
METHODS: Of these 57 CRS patients, Lund-Mackay (LM) scores and 43 other structural parameters were analyzed blinded. The reproducibility of the findings between three observers, a radiologist, an Ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon, and an ENT resident, were compared.
RESULTS: In general, there was moderate inter-observer agreement of the structures by Cohen's kappa coefficient. Poor reproducibility was observed in the following structures: optic nerve, insertion of the uncinated process, anterior ethmoidal artery, and Keros class.

PMID: 27981879 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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