Reproducibility of scoring emphysema by HRCT.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the reproducibility of three visual scoring methods of emphysema and compared these methods with pulmonary function tests (VC, DLCO, FEV1 and FEV%) among farmer's lung patients and farmers.


METHODS
Three radiologists examined high-resolution CT images of farmer's lung patients and their matched controls (n=70) for chronic interstitial lung diseases. Intraobserver reproducibility and interobserver variability were assessed for three methods: severity, Sanders' (extent) and Sakai. Pulmonary function tests as spirometry and diffusing capacity were measured.


RESULTS
Intraobserver kappa-values for all three methods were good (0.51-0.74). Interobserver kappa varied from 0.35 to 0.72. The Sanders' and the severity methods correlated strongly with pulmonary function tests, especially DLCO and FEV1.


CONCLUSIONS
The Sanders' method proved to be reliable in evaluating emphysema, in terms of good consistency of interpretation and good correlation with pulmonary function tests.
Malinen
A
A
Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio University Hospital, PO BOX 1777, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
Erkinjuntti-Pekkanen
R
R
Partanen
K
K
Rytkönen
H
H
Vanninen
R
R
D000368:Aged; D005203:Farmer's Lung / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014796:Visual Perception