A new visual rating scale for white matter low attenuation on CT.
The pathological substrate and clinical significance of white matter low density change on computed tomography (CT) remains incompletely understood, hampered by suboptimal rating scales. We developed a new scale and applied it to 647 CTs in 382 patients. White matter change was categorised by region (anterior and posterior frontal, parietal, occipital), severity (mild, moderate, severe) and extent (periventricular, extending to deep white, full thickness). Multiplying extent by severity gave regional scores, which were summated to give an overall score. CTs were read separately by 2 radiologists. Intraobserver reliabilities were 0.69 and 0.55, interobserver 0.70 (kappa values). Each assessment required only 1 min.
Mendes Ribeiro
H K
HK
Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, UK.
Barnetson
L P
LP
Hogervorst
E
E
Molyneux
A J
AJ
D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D012015:Reference Standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000592:standards*