Detection of heart calcification with electron beam CT: interobserver and intraobserver reliability for scoring quantification.

  1. R B Kaufmann,
  2. P F Sheedy, 2nd,
  3. J F Breen,
  4. J R Kelzenberg,
  5. B L Kruger,
  6. R S Schwartz and
  7. P P Moll
  1. Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

    Abstract

    PURPOSE: To assess interobserver and intraobserver reliability of three quantitative measures of coronary artery calcium burden: calcium "score," number of calcified lesions, and calcified area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Electron beam computed tomographic (CT) scanning was used in a series of 25 patients to detect coronary artery calcification. Scan results were reviewed for quality by a radiologist, then scored by two radiologic technologists and by another radiologist. RESULTS: Many interobserver and intraobserver disagreements were noted on a lesion-by-lesion basis. Since most disagreements involved very small lesions, however, their impact was negligible for all three measures of calcium burden. CONCLUSION: It is not useful for more than one observer to independently score a single CT examination obtained to detect cardiac calcification, even when the arteries are heavily calcified.

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    1. February 1994 Radiology, 190, 347-352.
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