title: Reliability of radiographic parameters in adenoid evaluation.
abstract: The assessment of adenoids by x-ray imaging has been the topic of heated debate, but few studies have looked into the reliability of most existing radiographic parameters.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to verify the intra-examiner and inter-examiner reproducibility of the adenoid radiographic assessment methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional case series study. Forty children of both genders aged between 4 and 14 were enrolled. They were selected based on complaints of nasal obstruction or mouth breathing and suspicion of pharyngeal tonsil hypertrophy. Cavum x-rays and orthodontic teleradiographs were assessed by two examiners in quantitative and categorical terms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All quantitative parameters in both x-ray modes showed excellent intra and inter-examiner reproducibility. Relatively better performance was observed in categorical parameters used in cavum x-ray assessment by C-Kurien, C-Wang, C-Fujioka, and C-Elwany over C-Cohen and C-Ysunza. As for orthodontic teleradiograph grading systems, C-McNamara has been proven to be more reliable than C-Holmberg.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most instruments showed adequate reproducibility levels. However, more research is needed to properly determine the accuracy and viability of each method.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo.
authors.forename: Murilo Fernando Neuppmann
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Feres
authors.forename: Helder Inocêncio Paulo
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.forename: Sheila Márcia
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Francisco
authors.forename: Shirley Shizue Nagata
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Pignatari
mesh_terms: D000234:Adenoids / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D009058:Mouth Breathing / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D015588:Observer Variation; D011859:Radiography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D019112:Teleradiology