Intraobserver and interobserver variability of MR imaging- and CT-derived prostate volumes after transperineal interstitial permanent prostate brachytherapy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relative accuracy and precision of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and computed tomography (CT) in the assessment of postimplantation prostate volume by determining intraobserver, interobserver, and intermodality variations.


METHODS
CT and MR images of 41 consecutive patients, after transperineal interstitial permanent prostate brachytherapy, were evaluated by two physicians to determine interobserver and intermodality variability in prostate volume measurements. Repeat evaluation in five randomly selected patients was used to determine intraobserver variability.


RESULTS
Observer 1 versus 2 CT-determined mean prostate volume difference was statistically significant (-8.5 cm3 +/- 9.74 [standard deviation], P < .001); observer 1 versus 2 MR-determined mean prostate volume difference was not significant (1.9 cm3 +/- 11.7, P = .492). CT intraobserver range of dimensional errors was 3.5 and 11.4 times that of MR imaging. Observer 1 CT and MR volumes were significantly different (P = .001); observer 2 CT and MR volumes were not significantly different (P = .079).


CONCLUSIONS
With both CT and MR imaging, variation is less when evaluations are conducted by one observer. Variation in one observer may be further reduced by using MR imaging in place of CT.
Dubois
D F
DF
Department of Radiation Oncology Service, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, TX 78236-5300, USA.
Prestidge
B R
BR
Hotchkiss
L A
LA
Prete
J J
JJ
Bice
W S
WS
D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D010502:Perineum; D011467:Prostate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data