Observer accuracy in the detection of pulmonary nodules on CT: effect of cine frame rate.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of cine frame rate on the accuracy of the detection of pulmonary nodules at computed tomography (CT).


METHODS
CT images of 15 consecutive patients with (n = 13) or without (n = 2) pulmonary metastases were identified. Initial assessment by two thoracic radiologists provided the "actual" or reference reading. Subsequently, 10 radiologists [board certified radiologists (n = 4) or radiology residents (n = 6)] used different fixed cine frame rates for nodule detection. Within-subjects analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate the data.


RESULTS
Eighty-nine nodules were identified by the thoracic radiologists (median 8, range 0-29 per patient; median diameter 9 mm, range 4-40 mm). There was a non-statistically significant trend to reduced accuracy at higher frame rates (p=0.113) with no statistically significant difference between experienced observers and residents (p = 0.79).


CONCLUSIONS
The accuracy of pulmonary nodule detection at higher cine frame rates is reduced, unrelated to observer experience.
Copley
S J
SJ
Department of Radiology, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College NHS Trust, London W12 0HS, UK. sue.copley@imperial.nhs.uk
Bryant
T H
TH
Chambers
A A
AA
Harvey
C J
CJ
Hodson
J M
JM
Graham
A
A
Lynch
M J
MJ
Paley
M R
MR
Partridge
W J
WJ
Rangi
P
P
Schmitz
S
S
Win
Z
Z
Todd
J J
JJ
Desai
S R
SR
D002983:Clinical Competence; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*