Impact of a primary reader's opinion on the detection of rib fractures.
OBJECTIVE
The authors assessed the influence of a prior reader's opinion on the detectability of rib fractures.


METHODS
Six pairs of observers read the chest PA radiographs of 92 subjects with rib fracture(s) and 28 normal subjects to detect rib fracture(s) according to a five-point rating of confidence with three methods. In method A, each reader read films as a primary reader. In method B, each reader read films after knowing his or her partner's opinion. In method C, each reader initially observed films and then made the final decision after knowing his or her partner's opinion.


RESULTS
Methods B and C were superior to method A in sensitivity. There was no difference in performance between methods B and C. Method C required a significantly longer time than the other methods.


CONCLUSIONS
Detection of rib fractures is improved by seeking the opinion of other observers.
Park
S H
SH
Department of Radiology, Catholic University Medical College, Seoul, Korea.
Song
H H
HH
Park
J M
JM
Song
K S
KS
Sohn
H S
HS
Lee
H J
HJ
Kim
B S
BS
Kim
H S
HS
Kim
Y J
YJ
Park
J B
JB
D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D012372:ROC Curve; D011859:Radiography; D012272:Ribs / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity