Observer Variability and the Performance between Faculties and Residents: US Criteria for Benign and Malignant Thyroid Nodules
Korean Journal of Radiology
; : 149-155, 2010.
Article
in En
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-127083
Responsible library:
WPRO
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the interobserver variability and performance in the interpretation of ultrasonographic (US) findings of thyroid nodules. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
72 malignant nodules and 61 benign nodules were enrolled as part of this study. Five faculty radiologists and four residents independently performed a retrospective analysis of the US images. The observers received one training session after the first interpretation and then performed a secondary interpretation. Agreement was analyzed by Cohen's kappa statistic. Degree of performance was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.RESULTS:
Agreement between the faculties was fair-to-good for all criteria; however, between residents, agreement was poor-to-fair. The area under the ROC curves was 0.72, 0.62, and 0.60 for the faculties, senior residents, and junior residents, respectively. There was a significant difference in performance between the faculties and the residents (p < 0.05). There was a significant increase in the agreement for some criteria in the faculties and the senior residents after the training session, but no significant increase in the junior residents.CONCLUSION:
Independent reporting of thyroid US performed by residents is undesirable. A continuous and specialized resident training is essential to enhance the degree of agreement and performance.Key words
Full text:
1
Index:
WPRIM
Main subject:
Radiology
/
Thyroid Gland
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Thyroid Neoplasms
/
Observer Variation
/
Retrospective Studies
/
ROC Curve
/
Sensitivity and Specificity
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Clinical Competence
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Diagnosis, Differential
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Faculty, Medical
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
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Observational_studies
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Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Korean Journal of Radiology
Year:
2010
Type:
Article