title: Inter-observer agreement of paranasal sinus computed tomography scans.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  The study demonstrated considerable inter-observer variation in certain surgically important structures. This would indicate the significance for consultation when evaluating sinus CT scans of CRS patients for planned advanced sinus surgery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  After the failure of medical treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), the need for surgery and the pre-operative planning of safe surgery is based on computed tomography (CT) findings. The aim of this prospective study was to compare inter-observer agreement of anatomical and surgical structures of sinus CT scans. The hypothesis was that the agreement between observers is good.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of these 57 CRS patients, Lund-Mackay (LM) scores and 43 other structural parameters were analyzed blinded. The reproducibility of the findings between three observers, a radiologist, an Ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon, and an ENT resident, were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In general, there was moderate inter-observer agreement of the structures by Cohen's kappa coefficient. Poor reproducibility was observed in the following structures: optic nerve, insertion of the uncinated process, anterior ethmoidal artery, and Keros class.
authors.affiliation: a Transplantation Laboratory , Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland.|b Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases , University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital , Helsinki , Finland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Julkunen
authors.affiliation: a Transplantation Laboratory , Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Terna
authors.affiliation: c Department of Otorhinolaryngology , University of Tampere , Tampere , Finland.|d Department of Ear and Oral diseases , Tampere University Hospital , Tampere , Finland.
authors.forename: Jura
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Numminen
authors.affiliation: e University of Helsinki and HUS Imaging , Helsinki , Finland.
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Markkola
authors.affiliation: f Medical Imaging Centre, Department of Radiology , Tampere University Hospital , Finland.
authors.forename: Prasun
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dastidar
authors.affiliation: c Department of Otorhinolaryngology , University of Tampere , Tampere , Finland.
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karjalainen
authors.affiliation: g School of Public Health , University of Tampere , Tampere , Finland.
authors.forename: Heini
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huhtala
authors.affiliation: c Department of Otorhinolaryngology , University of Tampere , Tampere , Finland.|d Department of Ear and Oral diseases , Tampere University Hospital , Tampere , Finland.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rautiainen
authors.affiliation: b Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases , University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital , Helsinki , Finland.
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meurman
authors.affiliation: a Transplantation Laboratory , Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland.|h Department of Allergy , University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital , Helsinki , Finland.
authors.forename: Sanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toppila-Salmi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CT; chronic rhinosinusitis; inter-observer; reproducibility; sinus imaging