- Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences
- Vol: 50 Issue: 1
- Evaluation of a two-image technique consisting of an axial and a coronal image generated by using th...
Evaluation of a two-image technique consisting of an axial and a coronal image generated by using the rib-flattening application: effect on reading time and diagnostic validity
Authors : Hüseyin Koray Kiliç, Melih Akyüz, Emetullah Cindil, Nesrin Erdoğan, Gonca Erbaş, Mehmet Araç
Pages : 59-65
Doi:10.3906/sag-1908-8
View : 19 | Download : 5
Publication Date : 9999-12-31
Article Type : Makaleler
Abstract :Background/aim: When reading a chest CT, a radiologist needs to evaluate each rib one by one due to complex curvy shape, which makes reporting a tiresome and time-consuming task. A new curved planar reformat application that flattens ribs on a single plane may find a place in the radiology reporting room. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a two-image set created by using the rib-flattening application on the performance of a radiologist in detecting sclerotic rib lesions in cancer patients. Materials and methods: The local Institutional Review Board approved this retrospective study.Two radiologists with different experience levels reviewed chest CT examinations of 106 patients 76 men, 30 women . We divided the patients into group A n = 54 , reviewed by a standard method, and group B n = 52 , reviewed by a standard method and the two-image set created on the rib-flattening application. Reading times, validity indices, and agreement levels with reference data were evaluated for both readers. Results: The median reading time of the junior examiner significantly decreased with the rib-flattening method 160.5 s vs. 70.0 s; P < 0.001 . Diagnostic indices of the senior reader were improved significantly at per patient level group A, AUC: 0.867; group B, AUC: 0.982; P = 0.046 . The new method showed better agreement levels kappa: 0.69 to 0.96 than the general method kappa: 0.53 to 0.91 .Conclusion: Based on improved agreement levels, reading times, and diagnostic validity indices we conclude that a two-image set consisting of an axial and a coronal flattened-rib image may be used in conjunction with an ordinary exam.Keywords : CT, bone reading, rib-flattening, rib metastasis