title: Influence of observer experience and training on proficiency in coronary CT angiography interpretation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the influence of experience and training on the proficiency in coronary CT angiography (CCTA) interpretation of practitioners with different levels of experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine radiologist and cardiologist observers with varying prior CCTA experience ranging from novice to expert independently analyzed two case series of 50 catheter-correlated CCTA studies for coronary artery stenosis (0%, ≤49%, 50-74%, 75-99%, or 100%). Results of the first case series were unblinded and presented along with catheter angiography results to each reader before proceeding to the second series. Diagnostic accuracy on a per-segment basis was compared for all readers and both case series, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Correlation coefficients between CCTA and catheter angiography initially ranged between good (r=0.87) and poor (r=0.26), depending on reader experience, and significantly (p<0.05) improved in the second case series (range: r=0.42 to r=0.91). Diagnostic accuracy was significantly (p<0.05) higher for more experienced readers (range: 96.5-97.8%) as compared to less experienced observers (range: 90.7-93.6%). After completion of the second case series for less experienced readers sensitivity and PPV significantly (p<0.05) improved (range: 62.7-67.8%/51.4-84.1%), but still remained significantly (p<0.05) lower as compared to more experienced observers (range: 89.8-93.3%/80.6-93.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The level of experience appears to be a strong determinant of proficiency in CCTA interpretation. Limited one-time training improves proficiency in novice readers, but not to clinically satisfactory levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, 25 Courtenay Drive, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.forename: J Matthias
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kerl
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Rosa
authors.forename: Tuna
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tekin
authors.forename: Eike
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boehme
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liem
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scheuchenzuber
authors.forename: He-Ri
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ralf W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Justin R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Zwerner
authors.forename: Hanns
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ackermann
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Vogl
authors.forename: U Joseph
authors.initials: UJ
authors.lastname: Schoepf
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*