Interobserver agreement in describing video capsule endoscopy findings: a multicentre prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
Few studies have specifically addressed interobserver agreement in describing lesions identified during capsule endoscopy. The aim of our study is to evaluate interobserver agreement in the description of capsule endoscopy findings.


METHODS
Consecutive short segments of capsule endoscopy were prospectively observed by 8 investigators. Seventy-five videos were prepared by an external investigator (gold standard). The description of the findings was reported by the investigators using the same validated and standardized capsule endoscopy structured terminology. The agreement was assessed using Cohen's kappa statistic.


RESULTS
As concerns the ability to detect a lesion, the agreement with the gold standard was moderate (kappa 0.48), as well as the agreement relating to the final diagnosis (κ 0.45). The best agreement was observed in identifying the presence of active bleeding (κ 0.72), whereas the poorest agreement concerned the lesion size (κ 0.32). The agreement with the GS was significantly better in endoscopists with higher case/volume of capsule endoscopy per year. Diagnostic concordance was better in the presence of angiectasia than in the presence of polyps or ulcers/erosions.


CONCLUSIONS
Correct lesion identification and diagnosis seem more likely to occur in presence of angiectasia, and for readers with more experience in capsule endoscopy reading.
Pezzoli
Alessandro
A
Department of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Azienda ospedaliera-universitaria Sant'Anna, Ferrara, Italy. a.pezzoli@ospfe.it
Cannizzaro
Renato
R
Pennazio
Marco
M
Rondonotti
Emanuele
E
Zancanella
Laura
L
Fusetti
Nadia
N
Simoni
Marzia
M
Cantoni
Franco
F
Melina
Raffaele
R
Alberani
Angela
A
Caravelli
Giancarlo
G
Villa
Federica
F
Chilovi
Fausto
F
Casetti
Tino
T
Iaquinto
Gaetano
G
D'imperio
Nicola
N
Gullini
Sergio
S
D016888:Angiodysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D053704:Capsule Endoscopy; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007417:Intestinal Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity