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Interobserver reproducibility in reporting on 99mTc-DMSA scintigraphy for detection of late renal sequelae
D Ladron De Guevara1, P Franken, C De Sadeleer
1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hospital San Juan de Dios, Santiago, Chile.
Insights
Interobserver agreement for 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scans in detecting kidney scarring after pyelonephritis was high. Results show consistent reporting for both early and late DMSA scintigraphy in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Nuclear Medicine Imaging
- Radiology
Background:
- Pyelonephritis, a kidney infection, can lead to scarring (sequelae) in children.
- 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy is used to detect these renal sequelae.
- Assessing the reliability of DMSA scan interpretation among different physicians is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate interobserver variability in the interpretation of DMSA scans.
- To determine the consistency of reporting for DMSA scans performed after acute pyelonephritis.
- To assess DMSA scan accuracy in detecting late renal sequelae.
Main Methods:
- Forty-six children with acute pyelonephritis underwent early and late DMSA scans.
- Three independent observers evaluated the scans.
- Reproducibility was assessed for early scans, late scans alone, and late scans with early scans for comparison.
Main Results:
- Complete agreement among observers was achieved in 75% (early scans), 78% (late scans alone), and 77% (late scans with early scans).
- High levels of interobserver agreement were observed across all reporting scenarios.
- The presence of early scans slightly improved agreement for late scan interpretation.
Conclusions:
- Interobserver reproducibility for DMSA scintigraphy in detecting renal sequelae post-pyelonephritis is high.
- Reporting consistency is comparable for both early and late DMSA scans.
- DMSA scanning is a reliable tool for evaluating late renal sequelae in children.
Unlabelled:
This study was designed to evaluate the interobserver variability in reporting on 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scanning performed 6 mo after an acute episode of pyelonephritis for the detection of late renal sequelae.
Methods:
Forty-six children were selected, who had early and late DMSA studies for evaluation of acute pyelonephritic lesions as well as sequelae. Three observers reported independently and separately on the early and late DMSA scans and, in a second step, on the late scan in the presence of the early scan. Interobserver reproducibility was evaluated for the early DMSA scan, the late DMSA scan alone, and the late DMSA scan with the early scan for comparison.
Results:
Complete agreement between the three observers was reached in 75%, 78%, and 77% for the early DMSA scan, the late DMSA scan alone, and the late DMSA scan with the early scan for comparison, respectively.
Conclusion:
Interobserver reproducibility was high and was comparable for both early and late DMSA scintigraphy.
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