Bayesian classifier for predicting malignant renal cysts on MDCT: early clinical experience.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of our study was to evaluate the feasibility and usefulness of the Bayesian classifier for predicting malignant renal cysts on MDCT.


METHODS
Ninety-three complicated cysts with pathologic confirmation were enrolled. Patient age and sex and seven morphologic features of the cysts including the maximum diameter, wall features, wall thickness, septa features, measurable enhancement of the wall and septa, presence of calcification, and presence of an enhancing soft-tissue component were used to train the Bayesian classifier. Four radiologists independently reviewed the MDCT images, and the probability of malignancy in each cyst was rated by the radiologists and the Bayesian classifier. The diagnostic performances of the radiologists' visual decisions and the Bayesian classifier were then compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The sensitivity and specificity were also compared between the visual decisions and the Bayesian classifier.


RESULTS
The area under the ROC curve for predicting malignant renal cysts by the Bayesian classifier was greater than the visual decisions of three readers (reader 1, p = 0.02; reader 2, p < 0.01; reader 4, p = 0.02) and was similar to the visual decision of one reader (reader 3, p = 0.51). The specificity for predicting malignant renal cysts was greater by the Bayesian classifier than by the visual decisions in readers 2 (p = 0.04) and 4 (p = 0.02) and was similar in readers 1 (p = 0.68) and 3 (p = 1.00). In terms of sensitivity, there was no significant difference between the Bayesian classifier and the visual decisions in all four readers (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
For predicting malignant renal cysts on MDCT, the Bayesian classifier is feasible and may improve diagnostic performance.
Lee
Youngjoo
Y
Department of Industrial Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Kim
Namkug
N
Cho
Kyoung-Sik
KS
Kang
Suk-Ho
SH
Kim
Dae Yoon
DY
Jung
Yoon Young
YY
Kim
Jeong Kon
JK
D019540:Area Under Curve; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D052177:Kidney Diseases, Cystic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed