背景:计算特定尺寸剂量估计值(SSDE)需要根据计算机断层扫描(CT)图像测量患者的前后(AP)和侧向厚度。然而,由于观察者之间和观察者之间的差异,这些测量可能会发生变化。本研究旨在研究这些变化对计算的SSDE准确性的影响。
方法:邀请了4名具有1-10年经验的放射技师测量30个胸部的AP和外侧厚度,腹部,和骨盆CT图像。图像来自基于互联网的数据库,并匿名用于分析。使用MicroDicom软件训练观察者进行测量,并要求1周后重复测量。这项研究获得了Taibah大学机构审查委员会的批准,并从观察员处获得书面知情同意书.使用Python库Pingouin(版本0.5.3)进行统计分析,Seaborn(版本0.12.2),和Matplotlib(版本3.7.1)。
结果:研究表明,对于计算的有效直径和AP厚度测量,观察者之间具有出色的一致性,组内相关系数(ICC)值分别为0.95和0.96。横向厚度测量的一致性较低,ICC值为0.89。第二轮测量产生了几乎相同水平的观察员之间的协议,有效直径的ICC值为0.97,1.0用于AP厚度,横向厚度为0.88。当观察者的一致性被检查时,计算的有效直径具有出色的一致性,所有观察者的ICC值范围为0.91至1.0。尽管横向厚度测量的一致性较低,但仍观察到了这一点。其ICC值范围为0.78至1.0。
结论:研究结果表明,计算SSDE所需的测量结果对于观察者之间和观察者之间的差异是稳健的。这对于SSDE的临床使用为CT扫描设置诊断参考水平很重要。
BACKGROUND: Calculating size-specific dose estimates (SSDEs) requires measurement of the patient\'s anteroposterior (AP) and lateral thickness based on computed tomography (CT) images. However, these measurements can be subject to variation due to inter-observer and intra-observer differences. This study aimed to investigate the impact of these variations on the accuracy of the calculated SSDE.
METHODS: Four radiographers with 1-10 years of experience were invited to measure the AP and lateral thickness on 30 chest, abdomen, and pelvic CT images. The images were sourced from an internet-based database and anonymized for analysis. The observers were trained to perform the measurements using MicroDicom software and asked to repeat the measurements 1 week later. The study was approved by the institutional review board at Taibah University, and written informed consent was obtained from the observers. Statistical analyses were performed using Python libraries Pingouin (version 0.5.3), Seaborn (version 0.12.2), and Matplotlib (version 3.7.1).
RESULTS: The study revealed excellent inter-observer agreement for the calculated effective diameter and AP thickness measurements, with Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) values of 0.95 and 0.96, respectively. The agreement for lateral thickness measurements was lower, with an ICC value of 0.89. The second round of measurements yielded nearly the same levels of inter-observer agreement, with ICC values of 0.97 for the effective diameter, 1.0 for AP thickness, and 0.88 for lateral thickness. When the
consistency of the observer was examined, excellent
consistency was found for the calculated effective diameter, with ICC values ranging from 0.91 to 1.0 for all observers. This was observed despite the lower
consistency in the lateral thickness measurements, which had ICC values ranging from 0.78 to 1.0.
CONCLUSIONS: The study\'s findings suggest that the measurements required for calculating SSDEs are robust to inter-observer and intra-observer differences. This is important for the clinical use of SSDEs to set diagnostic reference levels for CT scans.