title: Measurement of transplanted pancreatic volume using computed tomography: reliability by intra- and inter-observer variability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Unlike other solid organ transplants, pancreas allografts can undergo a substantial decrease in baseline volume after transplantation. This phenomenon has not been well characterized, as there are insufficient data on reliable and reproducible volume assessments. We hypothesized that characterization of pancreatic volume by means of computed tomography (CT) could be a useful method for clinical follow-up in pancreas transplant patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility and reliability of pancreatic volume assessment using CT scan in transplanted patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  CT examinations were performed on 21 consecutive patients undergoing pancreas transplantation. Volume measurements were carried out by two observers tracing the pancreatic contours in all slices. The observers performed the measurements twice for each patient. Differences in volume measurement were used to evaluate intra- and inter-observer variability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intra-observer variability for the pancreatic volume measurements of Observers 1 and 2 was found to be in almost perfect agreement, with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.90 (0.77-0.96) and 0.99 (0.98-1.0), respectively. Regarding inter-observer validity, the ICCs for the first and second measurements were 0.90 (range, 0.77-0.96) and 0.95 (range, 0.85-0.98), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT volumetry is a reliable and reproducible method for measurement of transplanted pancreatic volume.
authors.affiliation: Uppsala University, Department of Radiology, Oncology and Radiation Science, Section of Radiology, Uppsala, Sweden. eva.lundqvist.8954@student.uu.se
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lundqvist
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Segelsjö
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magnusson
authors.forename: Ali-Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Biglarnia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007479:Iopamidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D010179:Pancreas / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016035:Pancreas Transplantation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; C057937:iomeprol; D007479:Iopamidol