Intra- and interobserver reliability of gray scale/dynamic range evaluation of ultrasonography using a standardized phantom

Abstract

Purpose:To evaluate intra- and interobserver reliability of the gray scale/dynamic range of the phantom image evaluation of ultrasonography using a standardized phantom, and to assess the effect of interactive education on the reliability.Methods:Three radiologists (a resident, and two board-certified radiologists with 2 and 7 years of experience in evaluating ultrasound phantom images) performed the gray scale/dynamic range test for an ultrasound machine using a standardized phantom. They scored the number of visible cylindrical structures of varying degrees of brightness and made a ‘pass or fail’ decision. First, they scored 49 phantom images twice from a 2010 survey with limited knowledge of phantom images. After this, the radiologists underwent two hours of interactive education for the phantom images and scored another 91 phantom images from a 2011 survey twice. Intra- and interobserver reliability before and after the interactive education session were analyzed using K analyses.Results:Before education, the K-value for intraobserver reliability for the radiologist with 7 years of experience, 2 years of experience, and the resident was 0.386, 0.469, and 0.465, respectively. After education, the K-values were improved (0.823, 0.611, and 0.711, respectively). For interobserver reliability, the K-value was also better after the education for the 3 participants (0.067, 0.002, and 0.547 before education; 0.635, 0.667, and 0.616 after education, respectively).Conclusion:The intra- and interobserver reliability of the gray scale/dynamic range was fair to substantial. Interactive education can improve reliability. For more reliable results, double- checking of phantom images by multiple reviewers is recommended.

Quality Evaluation of Ultrasonographic Equipment Using an ATS-539 Multipurpose Phantom in Veterinary Medicine

“…The quality control of convex transducer has been standardized with ATS-539 multipurpose phantom (ATS Laboratories, Bridgeport, CT, U.S.A.) (Fig. 1) and widely used for abdominal diagnosis (5,11,13). In the field of veterinary medicine, however, the inspection items and appropriate/inappropriate criteria for ultrasound standard phantom image evaluation have not yet been prepared, and ultrasound imaging devices currently used in Korea have not yet been evaluated.…”

Metastatic Melanoma to the Pancreas Forming Portal Vein Tumor Thrombosis: A Case Report

“…In our case, initial diagnosis of malignant melanoma was made 10 years ago and metastatectomy for a pulmonary mass was performed 3 years ago. A case of pancreatic metastasis of malignant melanoma with tumor thrombi was reported 15 years after initial surgery, but imaging features were not reported in that case (4).…”

“…Metastatic melanomas to the pancreas have been reported very rarely and there is only a singular case report on portal vein thrombus formation by metastatic pancreatic melanoma. Also, there was no report dealing with the imaging features of this exceptional rare condition (4). We report a case of metastatic melanoma to the pancreas with extensive tumor thrombosis in intra-and extrahepatic portal veins, the splenic vein, hepatic veins and right atrium.…”

Erfassung und apparatives Monitoring des Ernährungsstatus von Patient*innen auf der Intensiv- und Intermediate Care Station

“…Die Datenlage für die Querschnittsflächenmessung ist etwas besser; so korreliert der Quadrizepsquerschnitt sehr gut (Männer r = 0,88, Frauen r = 0,89) mit der Gesamtmuskelmasse im MRT [ 65 ]. Drei Studien konnten eine Assoziation zwischen Querschnittsfläche und den Ergebnissen funktioneller Messungen nachweisen, während dies nur in einer Studie für die Muskeldickenmessung gelang [ 60 , 66 , 67 ].…”