Interobserver Agreement in Magnetic Resonance of the Sacroiliac Joints in Patients with Spondyloarthritis

Abstract

Background. Clinical, laboratory, and radiologic parameters are used for diagnosis and classification of spondyloarthritis (SpA). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of sacroiliac (SI) joints is being increasingly used to detect early sacroiliitis. We decided to evaluate the interobserver agreement in MRI findings of SI joints of SpA patients between a local radiologist, a rheumatologist, and an expert radiologist in musculoskeletal diseases. Methods. 66 MRI images of the SI joints of patients with established diagnosis of SpA were evaluated. Agreement was expressed in Cohen's kappa. Results. Interobserver agreement between a local radiologist and an expert radiologist was fair (κ = 0.37). Only acute findings showed a moderate agreement (κ = 0.45), while chronic findings revealed 76.5% of disagreement (κ = 0.31). A fair agreement was observed in acute findings (κ = 0.38) as well as chronic findings (κ = 0.38) between a local radiologist and a rheumatologist. There was a substantial agreement between an expert radiologist and a rheumatologist (κ = 0.73). In acute findings, a 100% agreement was achieved. Also chronic and acute plus chronic findings showed high levels of agreement (κ = 0.73 and 0.62, resp.). Conclusions. Our study shows that rheumatologists may have similar MRI interpretations of SI joints in SpA patients as an expert radiologist.

Assessment of interclass and intraclass variability of specific lesions of sacroiliac magnetic resonance imaging

“…Rueda et al compared SJ MRI readings of a local radiologist, expert radiologist, and rheumatologist and found that interobserver agreements of SJ MRI readings were between fair and substantial, and also showed that a rheumatologist had a better performance in the interpretation of SJ MRI 7 . Our study compared readings of radiologists working in different institutions with different experiences but who were not experts specifically on musculoskeletal radiology and found that interobserver agreement was poor in most of the parameters, including normal sacroiliac findings.…”

Predictive values of inflammatory back pain, positive HLA B27 antigen and acute and chronic magnetic resonance changes in early diagnosis of Spondyloarthritis. A study of 133 patients

“…Rueda showed fair agreement between local radiologist and expert radiologist, 0.45 for BME, and 0.31, for Tw1CL. Results improved when compared between rheumatologist and expert radiologist, 0.69 for BME alone, and 0.73 for BME and Tw1CL together [ 29 ]. IOA was further assessed in bone marrow, subchondral bone, ligaments, join capsule and space by Heuft- Dorenbosch.…”

Sacroileítis: evaluación por resonancia magnética según criterios ASAS

“…Para una mejor comprensión, definición y unificación del concepto de enfermedad, la Assessment of SpondyloArthritis Internacional Society (ASAS) desarrolló nuevos criterios de clasificación para el reconocimiento temprano de la SpA. Según la ASAS, el concepto de SpA axial se define como la presencia de sacroileítis por radiografía o imágenes de resonancia magnética (RM) [5][6][7] .…”