Nonenhanced limited CT in children suspected of having appendicitis: prospective comparison of attending and resident interpretations.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively compare resident and attending radiologic interpretations of nonenhanced limited computed tomographic (CT) scans obtained in children suspected of having appendicitis.


METHODS
Seventy-five consecutive children underwent nonenhanced limited CT for suspected appendicitis. The scans were prospectively interpreted by a resident and an attending radiologist, each unaware of the other's interpretation. The probability that the findings indicated a diagnosis of appendicitis, level of certainty in the interpretation, and presence of an alternate diagnosis were statistically analyzed.


RESULTS
Nineteen children (25%) had appendicitis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was not significantly different between residents (0.97 +/- 0.02) and attendings (0.95 +/- 0.04). The percentage agreement between residents and attendings was 91% (kappa = 0.73 +/- 0.095). The average level of certainty tended to be higher for attendings (93% +/- 15) than residents (89% +/- 12). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of resident interpretations were 63%, 96%, and 88%, respectively, compared with those of attending interpretations--95%, 98%, and 97%, respectively. Residents and attendings noted alternate diagnoses in 30% of children without appendicitis.


CONCLUSIONS
A high level of agreement exists between resident and attending radiologists in the interpretation of nonenhanced limited CT scans in children suspected of having appendicitis. Residents, however, tend to be less confident in their interpretations.
Lowe
L H
LH
Department of Radiology, Children's Mercy Hospital and University of Missouri, 2401 Gillham Rd, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA. llowe@cmh.edu
Draud
K S
KS
Hernanz-Schulman
M
M
Newton
M R
MR
Heller
R M
RM
Stein
S M
SM
Speroff
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D015588:Observer Variation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed