title: The ability of emergency physicians to diagnose and score acute pancreatitis on computed tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to determine the ability of emergency physicians' (EP) interpreting contrast-enhanced computed tomographies (CECTs) performed in patients diagnosed or suspected acute pancreatitis (AP), using the modified computed tomography severity index (MCTSI) scoring system.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted in Training and Research Hospital's Emergency Department. From January 1, 2013 to April 30, 2016, patients whom performed CECT within 24 h of admission with diagnosis or suspicion of AP were reviewed retrospectively. One hundred eighteen patients were included in the study. Three-third-year EPs received education about CECT interpretation and MCTSI criteria. Each EP interpreted CECTs in a blinded manner. The EPs' performance of determining the CECTs with or without AP and scoring the CECTs with CTSI scoring system was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The agreement (weighted kappa) between the EPs and the radiologists for determining CECTs positive for AP was 0.932 (p < 0.001), 0.864 (p < 0.001) and 0.949 (p < 0.001) for EP1, EP2 and EP3, respectively. The agreement for MCTSI scores was 0.649 (p < 0.001), 0.588 (p < 0.001) and 0.734 (p < 0.001). These values showed a significant relationship between the EPs and radiologists.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EPs can diagnose the AP on CECTs and score CECTs with MCTSI scoring system correctly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, İzmir Çiğli Training Hospital, 35620, Çiğli/İzmir, Turkey. dr.akaragoz@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karagöz
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, İzmir Katip Çelebi University Atatürk Research and Training Hospital, 35360, Karabağlar/İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Ünlüer
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ataturk Research and Training Hospital, İzmir Katip Çelebi University, 35360, Karabağlar/İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Oyar
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, İzmir Katip Çelebi University Atatürk Research and Training Hospital, 35360, Karabağlar/İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Topal
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ataturk Research and Training Hospital, İzmir Katip Çelebi University, 35360, Karabağlar/İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Topal
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000072177:Radiologists; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014421:Turkey
keywords: Acute pancreatitis; Contrast-enhanced computed tomography; Emergency physician; Modified CT severity index