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Interobserver variation in the interpretation of abdominal radiographs
J B Markus1, S Somers, S E Franic
1Department of Radiology, McMaster University Medical Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Radiology
|April 1, 1989
Summary
Radiologists showed fair to excellent agreement on 11 abdominal radiographic signs. However, poor agreement on eight signs, including large bowel obstruction, indicates reliability issues.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Abdominal radiographs are crucial for diagnosing various conditions.
- Assessing interobserver agreement is vital for validating diagnostic accuracy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reliability of commonly used radiographic signs and diagnoses in abdominal radiographs.
- To identify signs with poor interobserver agreement that may lack diagnostic consistency.
Main Methods:
- Review of 140 sets of abdominal radiographs by four diagnostic radiologists.
- Calculation of kappa values to quantify interobserver agreement for 19 radiographic signs/diagnoses.
Main Results:
- Fair to excellent interobserver agreement was observed for 11 out of 19 signs and diagnoses.
- Poor interobserver agreement was found for eight signs and diagnoses, including large bowel obstruction and nonspecific gas pattern.
Conclusions:
- The reliability of certain radiographic signs and diagnoses in abdominal imaging is questionable.
- Signs with poor interobserver agreement, such as large bowel obstruction, require cautious interpretation and may necessitate further investigation.