Long-Term Performance of Readers Trained in Grading Crohn Disease Activity Using MRI.
We aim to evaluate the long-term performance of readers who had participated in previous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reader training in grading Crohn disease activity.



Fourteen readers (8 women; 12 radiologists, 2 residents; mean age 40; range 31-59), who had participated in a previous MRI reader training, participated in a follow-up evaluation after a mean interval of 29 months (range 25-34 months). Follow-up evaluation comprised 25 MRI cases of suspected or known Crohn disease patients with direct feedback; cases were identical to the evaluation set used in the initial reader training (of which readers were unaware). Grading accuracy, overstaging, and understaging were compared between training and follow-up using a consensus score by two experienced abdominal radiologists as the reference standard.



In the follow-up evaluation, overall grading accuracy was 73% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 62%-81%), which was comparable to reader training grading accuracy (72%, 95% CI: 61%-80%) (P = .66). Overstaging decreased significantly from 19% (95% CI: 12%-27%) to 13% (95% CI: 8%-21%) between training and follow-up (P = .03), whereas understaging increased significantly from 9% (95% CI: 4%-21%) to 14% (95% CI: 7%-26%) (P < .01).



Readers have consistent long-term accuracy for grading Crohn disease activity after case-based reader training with direct feedback.
Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, G1-229, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: c.a.puylaert@amc.uva.nl.
Carl A J
CA
Puylaert
Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, G1-229, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Jeroen A W
JA
Tielbeek
Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, G1-229, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Shandra
S
Bipat
Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, G1-229, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Thierry N
TN
Boellaard
Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, G1-229, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
C Yung
CY
Nio
Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, G1-229, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Jaap
J
Stoker
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072177:Radiologists / Q000592:standards*; D012015:Reference Standards
Crohn disease; education; follow-up studies; graduate; magnetic resonance imaging; medical; teaching