An independent inter- and intra-observer agreement assessment of the Eno classification of sacroiliac joint degeneration.

BACKGROUND: Recently, a scoring system to grade sacroiliac joint (SIJ) degeneration using computed tomography (CT) scans was described. No independent evaluation has determined the inter- and intra-observer agreement using this scheme. PURPOSE: To perform an independent inter- and intra-observer agreement assessment using the Eno classification and determining gas in the SIJ. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 64 patients aged ≥60 years who were evaluated with abdominal and pelvic computed tomography scans. Six physicians (three orthopaedic spine surgeons and three musculoskeletal radiologists) assessed axial images to grade SIJ degeneration into grade 0 (normal), grade 1 (mild degeneration), grade 2 (significant degeneration), and grade 3 (ankylosis). We also evaluated the agreement assessing the presence of gas in the SIJ. After a four-week interval, all cases were presented in a random sequence for repeat assessment. We determined the agreement using the kappa (κ) or weighted kappa coefficient (wκ). RESULTS: The inter-observer agreement was moderate (wκ = 0.50 [0.44-0.56]), without differences among surgeons (wκ = 0.53 [0.45-0.61]) and radiologists (wκ = 0.49 [0.42-0.57]). The agreement evaluating the presence of gas was also moderate (κ = 0.45 [0.35-0.54]), but radiologists obtained better agreement (κ = 0.61 [0.48-0.72]) than surgeons (κ = 0.29 [0.18-0.39]). The intra-observer agreement using the classification was substantial (wκ = 0.79 [0.76-0.82]), without differences comparing surgeons (wκ = 0.75 [0.70-0.80]) and radiologists (wκ = 0.83 [0.79-0.87]). The intra-rater agreement evaluating gas was substantial (κ = 0.77 [0.72-0.82]), without differences between surgeons (κ = 0.71 [0.63-0.78]) and radiologists (κ = 0.84 [0.78-0.90]). CONCLUSION: Given the only moderate agreement obtained using the Eno classification, it does not seem adequate to be used in clinical practice or in research.

Protocolo de resonancia magnética de manos en diagnóstico precoz de artritis reumatoide: ¿por qué? ¿cómo? ¿para qué?

Conventional radiography of hands has been the imaging technique used for the early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, considering its easy access and ability to reveal structural damage. However, it does not provide information about inflammatory activity or prognosis of this disease. On the other hand, magnetic resonance imaging is becoming the technique of choice for the early diagnosis of this disease and for the assessment of treatment response. It has a better sensitivity for the detection of inflammatory findings that cannot be identified with physical examination, analytical and conventional imaging techniques. This article reports the imaging protocol for magnetic resonance of the hands used at our institution for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We also review the main imaging findings of the disease.

[Magnetic resonance of the hands for the diagnosis and follow-up of rheumatoid arthritis]. / Protocolo de resonancia magnética de manos en diagnóstico precoz de artritis reumatoide: ¿por qué? ¿cómo? ¿para qué?

Conventional radiography of hands has been the imaging technique used for the early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, considering its easy access and ability to reveal structural damage. However, it does not provide information about inflammatory activity or prognosis of this disease. On the other hand, magnetic resonance imaging is becoming the technique of choice for the early diagnosis of this disease and for the assessment of treatment response. It has a better sensitivity for the detection of inflammatory findings that cannot be identified with physical examination, analytical and conventional imaging techniques. This article reports the imaging protocol for magnetic resonance of the hands used at our institution for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We also review the main imaging findings of the disease.

The META score for differentiating metastatic from osteoporotic vertebral fractures: an independent agreement assessment.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Differentiating osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs) from metastatic vertebral fractures (MVFs) is an important clinical challenge. A novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based score (the META score) was described, aiming to differentiate OVF from MVF. This score showed an almost perfect agreement by the group developing it, but an independent agreement evaluation is pending. PURPOSE: We aimed to perform an independent inter- and intraobserver agreement evaluation of the META score and to test the score's capability of differentiating OVF from MVF. STUDY DESIGN: This is an agreement study of the META score. METHODS: Sixty-four patients with confirmed OVF or MVF were assessed by six independent evaluators (three spine surgeons and three fellowship-trained radiologists) using the META score. We used the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) to determine the overall inter-and intraobserver agreement, and the kappa statistic (κ) to express the agreement for each individual score criterion. The score accuracy was determined by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Finally, we used κ to evaluate the agreement among raters to determine whether the fracture was OVF or MVF. RESULTS: The overall interobserver agreement was poor [ICC=0.10 (0.02-0.20)]; spine surgeons [ICC=0.75 (0.66-0.83)] had better agreement than radiologists did [ICC=0.05 (-0.08 to 0.21)]. The intraobserver agreement was poor [ICC=0.17 (0.01-0.32)]; both spine surgeons [ICC=0.21 (0.05-0.41)] and radiologists had a poor agreement [ICC=0.03 (-0.29 to 0.27)]. The agreement for each specific criterion varied from κ=0.24 to κ=0.60. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.58 (0.64 for spine surgeons and 0.52 for radiologists, p<.01). CONCLUSIONS: The interobserver agreement using the META score was adequate for spine surgeons but not for other potential users (radiologists); the intraobserver agreement was poor. Further studies are thus necessary before the use of this score is recommended.

The Pfirrmann classification of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration: an independent inter- and intra-observer agreement assessment.

PURPOSE: Grading inter-vertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is important in the evaluation of many degenerative conditions, including patients with low back pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the best imaging instrument to evaluate IDD. The Pfirrmann classification is commonly used to grade IDD; the authors describing this classification showed an adequate agreement using it; however, there has been a paucity of independent agreement studies using this grading system. The aim of this study was to perform an independent inter- and intra-observer agreement study using the Pfirrmann classification. METHODS: T2-weighted sagittal images of 79 patients consecutively studied with lumbar spine MRI were classified using the Pfirrmann grading system by six evaluators (three spine surgeons and three radiologists). After a 6-week interval, the 79 cases were presented to the same evaluators in a random sequence for repeat evaluation. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and the weighted kappa (wκ) were used to determine the inter- and intra-observer agreement. RESULTS: The inter-observer agreement was excellent, with an ICC = 0.94 (0.93-0.95) and wκ = 0.83 (0.74-0.91). There were no differences between spine surgeons and radiologists. Likewise, there were no differences in agreement evaluating the different lumbar discs. Most differences among observers were only of one grade. Intra-observer agreement was also excellent with ICC = 0.86 (0.83-0.89) and wκ = 0.89 (0.85-0.93). CONCLUSIONS: In this independent study, the Pfirrmann classification demonstrated an adequate agreement among different observers and by the same observer on separate occasions. Furthermore, it allows communication between radiologists and spine surgeons.

Raquitismo: caso clínico pesquisado en atención primaria / Rickets: clinical case encountered in primary care

Rickets with deficiency etiology is a pathology which is currently infrequent in Chile; it is usually associated with hereditary causes or as a secondary consequence of other pathologies. It is produced by insufficient mineralization of the organic matrix of the skeleton or bones, and affects the epiphyseal growth plate. We report a clinical case of a child aged 15 months from La Serena with a history of osteomalacia in the paternal family; in a well baby examination genu varum was detected along with a metaphyseal thickening of the wrists and costal rosary. A laboratory and radiological study was initiated because of suspected rickets; the patient was referred to the Roberto del Rio Hospital in Santiago for a detailed endocrinological and genetic study.

El raquitismo de etiología carencial es una patología actualmente poco frecuente en nuestro país, cobrando mayor importancia en su incidencia las causas hereditarias y las secundarias a otras patologías. Es producido por mineralización insuficiente de la matriz orgánica del esqueleto u osteoide, que afecta la placa de crecimiento epifisiaria. Se presenta un caso clínico de una lactante de 1 año 3 meses, con antecedentes familiares por línea paterna de osteomalacia, residente en La Serena, en la que en su control de niño sano, se detecta genu varum, leve ensanchamiento metatisiario de muñecas y rosario costal. Se inicia estudio de laboratorio y radiológico por sospecha de raquitismo, obteniéndose resultados sugerentes de ésta enfermedad, derivándose la paciente al Hospital Roberto del Río en Santiago de Chile para completar estudio endocrinológico y genético.

Tomografía axial computerizada helicoidal en el estudio de la urolitiasis (pieloTAC): experiencia en un centro de diagnóstico por imágenes: Antofagasta / Tomography axial computed helical in the study of urolithiasis (pieloTAC): experience in the centro de diagnóstico por imágenes: Antofagasta

In Chile, the urolithiasis constitutes a frequent pathology, reaching a 10% prevalence, existing diverse imaging methods for their, diagnosis among them the Helical Tomography Wilhout Contrast (Pielo T AC) contitutes the gold standard, by their high sensitivy (> 95%) and specificity (> 85%). By means of retrospective descriptive study, one analized 82 cases with information of PieloTAC, realised by clinical suspicion of urolithiasis, between October 2006 and March 2007 in the Centro de Diagnóstico por Imágenes Diagnoimage, Antofagasta. In 56.10% of the cases urolithiasis was confirmed, with predominance of renal location in 57.63%. A 30.56% of patients without lithiasis, presented pelvic phlebolit, renal cyst and calcium granuloma. One concludes that in this PieloTAC series it provides a highly sensitive imaging diagnosis and specificity for urolithiasis, reporting so large, location and composition of calculi, like also diagnoses differentials with other pathologies, showing as advantages the short run time, non contrasts use and to be independent operador.

En Chile, la nefrourolitiasis constituye una patología frecuente, alcanzando una prevalencia de 10%, existiendo diversos métodos imagenológicos para su diagnóstico, entre ellos la Tomografía Helicoidal Sin Contraste (PieloTAC) constituye el examen imagenológico de elección, por su alta sensibilidad (> 95%) y especificidad (>85%). Mediante estudio descriptivo retrospectivo, se analizó 82 casos con informes de PieloTAC, realizados por sospecha clínica de nefrourolitiasis, entre octubre de 2006 y marzo de 2007 en el Centro de Diagnóstico por Imágenes Diagnoimage de Antofagasta. En el 56,10% de los casos se confirmó nefrourolitiasis, con predominio de ubicación renal en el 57,63%. Un 30,56% de los pacientes sin litiasis, presentó flebolitos pelvianos, quistes renales y granuloma cálcico. Se concluye que en esta serie PieloTAC proporcionó un diagnóstico imagenológico de alta sensibilidad y especificidad para nefrourolitiasis, reportando tamaño, localización y composición de los cálculos, como también diagnósticos diferenciales con otras patologías, mostrando como ventajas el corto tiempo de ejecución, no usar medio contraste y ser operador independiente.