The effect of a technical quality assessment of hip-extended radiographs on interobserver agreement in the diagnosis of canine hip dysplasia.
Experienced and inexperienced observers evaluated the assessability of 50 radiographs (25 dogs) and determined the hip status (dysplasia/nondysplasia and final scoring according Fédération Cynologique Internationale [FCI]-criteria) individually. A radiographic technical quality assessment was performed in a separate reading session. Interobserver agreement in determining dysplasia/nondysplasia and FCI-scoring did not significantly increase with the increasing quality of a radiograph, irrespective whether these observers are experienced or not. There was a significant agreement between the technical quality assessment and assessability (P < 0.0005). Despite the effort to objectify radiographic quality and to present high-quality radiographs to observers, interobserver agreement on dysplasia/nondysplasia and final scoring, remains low, even in the experienced group. Although increased radiographic quality narrows the range of scoring, the range remains unacceptably high.
Verhoeven
Geert E C
GE
Department of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. geertverhoeven@hotmail.com
Fortrie
Ruth R
RR
Duchateau
Luc
L
Saunders
Jimmy H
JH
Van Ryssen
Bernadette
B
Van Bree
Henri
H
Coopman
Frank
F
D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004285:Dogs; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006619:Hip Dysplasia, Canine / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007085:Ilium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015588:Observer Variation; D011859:Radiography / Q000592:standards