Interobserver variation in the radiographic diagnosis of duodenal ulcer disease

Interobserver variation was estimated in radiologists' detection of duodenal ulcer and deformity of the duodenal bulb. A consecutive series of 156 patients with upper abdominal pain had a double contrast barium examination. The films were first read by routine by a specialist in radiology. A second reading was performed by another specialist who did not know the result of the first reading. Overall agreement between the two readings in the detection of duodenal ulcer and deformity of the duodenal bulb was 0.91 and 0.94, respectively. The overall agreement was adjusted for the expected chance agreement and kappa values were calculated. Kappa was 0.63 for the detection of duodenal ulcer and 0.85 for the detection of deformity of the duodenal bulb.