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Inter-observer agreement of paranasal sinus computed tomography scans |
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| Authors: | Anna Julkunen Emma Terna Jura Numminen Antti Markkola Prasun Dastidar Matti Karjalainen |
| Affiliation: | 1. Transplantation Laboratory, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland;2. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland;3. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland;4. Department of Ear and Oral diseases, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland;5. University of Helsinki and HUS Imaging, Helsinki, Finland;6. Medical Imaging Centre, Department of Radiology, Tampere University Hospital, Finland |
| 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. |
| Keywords: | CT inter-observer reproducibility chronic rhinosinusitis sinus imaging |