SungJae Lee MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Hye Jin Baek, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kwanghwi Lee, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yedaun Lee MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hyun Kyung Jung, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Seon-Jeong Kim MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Seung Ho Kim MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To compare the diagnostic accuracy among radiology residents for the interpretation of diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) in patients with acute neurologic deficits in emergency department (ER) and to evaluate the interobserver reliability

A total of 80 patients who underwent DWI to evaluate acute neurologic deficits were included in this retrospective study. Four radiology residents in the third and fourth years assessed the results of the imaging independently, and their interpretation compared with the consensus opinion of two staff neuroradiologists. The McNemar test and κappa statistics were used to compare the results among four readers.

Of the 80 patients, the presence of acute infarction was confirmed in 48 (60%) patients, negative findings were in 32 patients (40%). The most frequent site of acute infarction was pons. For the interpretation of DWI abnormality among four readers, all diagnostic indices of senior residents were similar to or higher than those of junior residents. There was no statistical difference in the assessment of DWI between readers with same grade (Mcnemar test, P = 0.146, juniors, and P = 0.180, seniors). However, the results of senior residents were significantly superior to junior residents (Mcnemar test, P = 0.022). Kappa statistics showed good agreement among the residents, and also showed good agreement between residents and staffs.

Although senior residents showed better values in the interpretation of emergency DWI than junior residents, there was a good interobserver agreement among their results. Therefore, on-call radiology residents could safely make the initial interpretation of DWI which underwent in ER, and formal reporting may wait until a suitable experienced radiologist is available.

On-call radiology residents can make the initial interpretation of DWI which underwent in ER, and formal reporting may wait until a suitable experienced radiologist is available.

Lee, S, Baek, H, Lee, K, Lee, Y, Jung, H, Kim, S, Kim, S, Interpretation of Diffusion-weighted MR Imaging in Patients with Acute Neurologic Deficits in Emergency Department by Radiology Residents: Comparison of Diagnostic Accuracy Among Residents and Analyses of Interobserver Reliability.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14045513.html