In 25 patients, multiple independent observers scoring electron beam CT scans for cardiac calcification had negligible impact on overall calcium burden measures despite small lesion disagreements.
Observational (n=25)
What is the interobserver and intraobserver reliability of electron beam CT for quantifying coronary artery calcium burden?
Independent scoring of electron beam CT for cardiac calcification by more than one observer is not useful due to the negligible impact of interobserver disagreements on overall calcium burden measures.
PURPOSE: To assess interobserver and intraobserver reliability of three quantitative measures of coronary artery calcium burden: calcium "score," number of calcified lesions, and calcified area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Electron beam computed tomographic (CT) scanning was used in a series of 25 patients to detect coronary artery calcification. Scan results were reviewed for quality by a radiologist, then scored by two radiologic technologists and by another radiologist. RESULTS: Many interobserver and intraobserver disagreements were noted on a lesion-by-lesion basis. Since most disagreements involved very small lesions, however, their impact was negligible for all three measures of calcium burden. CONCLUSION: It is not useful for more than one observer to independently score a single CT examination obtained to detect cardiac calcification, even when the arteries are heavily calcified.
Kaufmann et al. (Tue,) conducted a observational in Coronary artery calcification (n=25). Multiple observer scoring of electron beam CT vs. Single observer scoring was evaluated on Interobserver and intraobserver reliability of calcium score, number of calcified lesions, and calcified area. In 25 patients, multiple independent observers scoring electron beam CT scans for cardiac calcification had negligible impact on overall calcium burden measures despite small lesion disagreements.