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Intraobserver and interobserver reliability in sonographic size measurements of gallbladder polyps

  • Hepatobiliary-Pancreas
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Abstract

Objectives

To evaluate the intraobserver and interobserver reliability of gallbladder polyp measurements using transabdominal US and the factors that affect reliability.

Methods

From November 2017 to February 2018, two radiologists measured the maximum diameter of 91 gallbladder polyps using transabdominal US. Intraobserver and interobserver agreement were determined using 95% Bland-Altman limits of agreement and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). The effects of image settings, polyp location, and polyp size were evaluated by comparing ICCs using z tests.

Results

The intraobserver agreement rates were 0.960 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.939–0.973) for observer 1 and 0.962 (95% CI, 0.943–0.975) for observer 2. The ICCs between the two observers were 0.963 (95% CI, 0.926–0.979) for the first measurement and 0.973 (95% CI, 0.950–0.984) for the second measurement. The 95% limits of agreement on repeated measurements were 22.3–25.2% of the mean, and those between the two observers were 25.5–34.2% of the mean. ICCs for large polyps (≥ 5 mm) were significantly higher than those for small polyps (< 5 mm). There were no significant differences in the ICCs between image settings and polyp location.

Conclusions

Polyp size measurements using transabdominal US are highly repeatable and reproducible. Polyp size significantly affects the reliability of measurement. Diameter changes of approximately less than 25% may fall within the measurement error; this should be considered while interpreting the change in size during follow-up US, especially for small polyps.

Key Points

• Gallbladder polyp size measurement using transabdominal US is highly repeatable and reproducible.

• Diameter changes of approximately less than 25% should be interpreted carefully, especially in small polyps.

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Abbreviations

CI:

Confidence interval

ICCs:

Intraclass correlation coefficients

LOA:

Limit of agreement

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The authors state that this work has not received any funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Inje University College of Medicine, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Haeundae-ro 875, Haeundae-gu, Busan, Republic of Korea

    Seul Bi Lee, Yedaun Lee, Seung Jin Kim, Jung Hee Yoon, Seung Ho Kim, Suk Jung Kim, Hyun Kyung Jung & Seok Hahn

  2. Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, 101, Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Seul Bi Lee

  3. Department of Radiology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine and Gyeongsang National University Changwon Hospital, Changwon, Republic of Korea

    Hye Jin Baek

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  1. Seul Bi Lee
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  2. Yedaun Lee
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  3. Seung Jin Kim
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  4. Jung Hee Yoon
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  5. Seung Ho Kim
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  6. Suk Jung Kim
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  7. Hyun Kyung Jung
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  9. Hye Jin Baek
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Correspondence to Yedaun Lee.

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The scientific guarantor of this publication is Yedaun Lee.

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The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article.

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No complex statistical methods were necessary for this paper.

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• retrospective

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• performed at one institution

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Lee, S.B., Lee, Y., Kim, S.J. et al. Intraobserver and interobserver reliability in sonographic size measurements of gallbladder polyps. Eur Radiol 30, 206–212 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-019-06385-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-019-06385-4

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