Reproducibility of mammographic classifications for non-palpable suspect lesions with microcalcifications.
Observer variability in interpretation of mammograms is a well-known problem, especially for microcalcifications. The classification of the mammographic findings depends upon this interpretation. We performed an intraobserver study to evaluate a breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) based method for description and classification of non-palpable lesions with microcalcifications. A set of 100 non-palpable mammographic lesions mainly consisting of microcalcifications was described and classified on two occasions, by two radiologists at an interval of 6 months. The intraobserver variability was evaluated with kappa statistics. The overall agreement for the classification was moderate (kappa 0.54). The lowest kappa values were observed for the categories "probably benign (BI-RADS 3, kappa 0.59)" and "suspicious abnormality (BI-RADS 4, kappa 0.44)". The clinical management (follow-up or biopsy) of non-palpable lesions consisting of microcalcifications depending upon radiological classification in the groups BI-RADS 3 (follow-up) and BI-RADS 4 (biopsy) is therefore debatable.
Pijnappel
R M
RM
Department of Radiology, Martini Hospital, Locatie van Swieten, PO Box 30033, 9700 RM Groningen, The Netherlands.
Peeters
P H M
PH
Hendriks
J H C L
JH
Mali
W P Th M
WP
D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000592:standards; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008327:Mammography / Q000592:standards*; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results