Inter-observer agreement on levels of evidence in radiology articles.

Levels of evidence (LE) are established through a hierarchical classification of studies according to their design. At present, there are many heterogeneous LE classifications, and this hampers their applicability. Our study aims to identify which LE classification has the best interobserver concordance for radiology articles. For this purpose, an interobserver agreement analysis were performed on 105 original articles applying two NE scales (Oxford Center of Evidence Based Medicine (OCEBM) y National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)). The inter-rater agreement of the LE assigned after reading the abstracts was good when using the OCEBM scale (K = 0.679), and somewhat lower with the NHMRC (K = 0.577 -moderate-). All differences were statistically significant (P < .000). So, in conclusion, of the two scales analysed (OCEBM and NHMRC), the OCEBM led to the strongest level of inter-rater agreement.

[Need for dosage control in conventional radiological examinations: analysis of absorbed dose and equivalent effective dose in thoracic and bone radiological examinations]. / Necesidad del control de dosis en exploraciones radiológicas convencionales: análisis de la dosis absorbida y dosis equivalente effectiva en exploraciones radiológicas torácicas y oseas.

581 patients referred to the Radiology Department of the University Hospital in Cadiz took part in a dosimetric study. 56.69 per 100 underwent chest X-rays and 43.20 per 100 had some type of bone X-ray examination. We have established the Dose Absorbed by the patient at the point of incidence of the direct beam and at other points of interest, such as bone marrow, eyeball, thyroid, ovaries and testicles. We also calculate the Equivalent Effective Dose (EED).

[Unusual forms of laryngeal carcinoma]. / Formas inusuales del carcinoma de laringe.

From 1976 to 1983 we monitored 439 patients who were treated at the Radiotherapy Unit of University Clinic of Cádiz. Of all the patients who were examined we discovered only six cases of unusual histopathological forms of carcinoma of the larynx, representing 1.36%. The survival in the case of these patients was studied five years later. From the study we conclude that survival in the case of these patients is not affected by histopathological type of tumor, but, as in the case of epidermoid tumors, influencing factors are: anatomical situation, extension and type of treatment followed. The index of survival is similar to that observed in epidermoid neoplasm of the larynx.

[Contributions to the study of pulmonary carcinoma. Review of 138 cases]. / Contribución al estudio del carcinoma pulmonar. Revisión de 138 casos.

A study was carried out in 138 lung cancer patients from the Department of Radiology and Physiotherapy of the Faculty of Medicine of Cadiz between 1983 and 1986. The patients were classified according to the pathologic anatomy in order to analyze the statistical variations in relation to sex, localization, metastases, clinical stage and radiation therapy. The obtained results about the form of presentation and behavior of each one of the pathologic anatomy types of lung carcinoma agree in some aspects with other works that have been consulted, and may help the radiotherapists in their clinical and therapeutic approach.

[Effect of dexamethasone at the level of cerebral metastases. Evaluation by CT and nuclear medicine]. / Efecto de la dexametasona a nivel de las metástasis cerebrales. Evaluación con TC y medicina nuclear.

Thirty five patients with brain metastases and edema were treated with dexamethasone. The results were evaluated by cranial computed tomography and nuclear medicine. Edema was alleviated in 32 out of the 35 patients after a two weeks treatment.