Interobserver and intraobserver variability in the response evaluation of cancer therapy according to RECIST and WHO-criteria.
BACKGROUND
Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) and WHO-criteria are used to evaluate treatment effects in clinical trials. The purpose of this study was to examine interobserver and intraobserver variations in radiological response assessment using these criteria.


METHODS
Thirty-nine patients were eligible. Each patient's series of CT images were reviewed. Each patient was classified into one of four categories according RECIST and WHO-criteria. To examine interobserver variation, response classifications were independently obtained by two radiologists. One radiologist repeated the procedure on two additional different occasions to examine intraobserver variation. Kappa statistics was applied to examine agreement.


RESULTS
Interobserver variation using RECIST and WHO-criteria were 0.53 (95% CI 0.33-0.72) and 0.60 (0.39-0.80), respectively. Response rates (RR) according to RECIST obtained by reader A and reader B were 33% and 21%, respectively. RR according to WHO-criteria obtained by reader A and reader B were 33% and 23% respectively. Intraobserver variation using RECIST and WHO-criteria ranged between 0.76-0.96 and 0.86-0.91, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiological tumor response evaluation according to RECIST and WHO-criteria are subject to considerable inter- and intraobserver variability. Efforts are necessary to reduce inconsistencies from current response evaluation criteria.
Suzuki
Chikako
C
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Institution for Molecular Medicine and Surgery Karolinska University Hospital Solna and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Chikako.Tanaka@ki.se
Torkzad
Michael R
MR
Jacobsson
Hans
H
Aström
Gunnar
G
Sundin
Anders
A
Hatschek
Thomas
T
Fujii
Hirofumi
H
Blomqvist
Lennart
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015588:Observer Variation; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014944:World Health Organization