title: Use of Computed Tomography in Diagnosing Ventral Hernia Recurrence: A Blinded, Prospective, Multispecialty Evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Physical examination misses up to one-third of ventral hernia recurrences seen on radiologic imaging. However, tests such as computed tomographic (CT) imaging are subject to interpretation and require validation of interobserver reliability.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the interobserver reliability of CT scans for detecting a ventral hernia recurrence among surgeons and radiologists. We hypothesized there would be significant disagreement in the diagnosis of a ventral hernia recurrence among different observers. Our secondary aim was to determine reasons for disagreement in the interpretation of CT scans.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred patients who underwent ventral hernia repair from 2010-2011 at an academic health care center with a postoperative CT scan were randomly selected from a larger cohort. This study was conducted from July 2014 to March 2015. Prospective assessment of the presence or absence of a recurrent ventral hernia on CT scans was compared among 9 blinded reviewers and the radiology report. Five reviewers (consensus group) met to discuss all CT scans with disagreement. The discussion was assessed for keywords and key concepts. The remaining 4 reviewers (validation group) read the consensus group recommendations and reassessed the CT scans. Pre- and post-review κ were calculated; the post-review assessments were compared with clinical examination findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interobserver reliability in determining hernia recurrence radiographically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 100 CT scans, there was disagreement among all 9 reviewers and the radiology report on the presence/absence of a ventral hernia in 73 cases (κ = 0.44; 95% CI, 0.35-0.54; P < .001). Following discussion among the consensus group, there remained disagreement in 10 cases (κ = 0.91; 95% CI, 0.83-0.95; P < .001). Among the validation group, the κ value had a slight improvement from 0.21 (95% CI, 0.12-0.33) to 0.34 (95% CI, 0.23-0.46) (P < .001) after reviewing the consensus group proposals. There was disagreement between clinical examination and the consensus group assessment of CT scans on the presence/absence of a ventral hernia in 25 cases. The concepts most frequently discussed were the absence of an accepted definition for a radiographic ventral hernia and differentiating pseudorecurrence from recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Owing to the high interobserver variability, CT scan was not associated with reliable diagnosing in ventral hernia recurrence. Consensus guidelines and improved communication between surgeon and radiologist may decrease interobserver variability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston.
authors.forename: Julie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Holihan
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston.
authors.forename: Burzeen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karanjawala
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston.
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Erik P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Askenasy
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston.
authors.forename: Eduardo J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Matta
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston.
authors.forename: Latifa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gharbaoui
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston.
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hasapes
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston.
authors.forename: Varaha S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Tammisetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston.
authors.forename: Chakradhar R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Thupili
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston.
authors.forename: Zeinab M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Alawadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston.
authors.forename: Ioana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bondre
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston.
authors.forename: Juan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Flores-Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston.
authors.forename: Lillian S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston.
authors.forename: Mike K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011871:Radiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D066231:Surgeons; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed