Sampat M P, Whitman G J, Stephens T W, Broemeling L D, Heger N A, Bovik A C, Markey M K
Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
Br J Radiol. 2006 Dec;79 Spec No 2:S134-40. doi: 10.1259/bjr/96723280.
The goal of this study was to assess the reliability of measurements of the physical characteristics of spiculated masses on mammography. The images used in this study were obtained from the Digital Database for Screening Mammography. Two experienced radiologists measured the properties of 21 images of spiculated masses. The length and width of all spicules and the major axis of the mass were measured. In addition, the observers counted the total number of spicules. Interobserver and intraobserver variability were evaluated using a hypothesis test for equivalence, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman statistics. For an equivalence level of 30% of the mean of the senior radiologist's measurement, equivalence was achieved for the measurements of average spicule length (p<0.01), average spicule width (p = 0.03), the length of the major axis (p<0.01) and for the count of the number of spicules (p<0.01). Similarly, with the ICC analysis technique "excellent" inter-rater agreement was observed for the measurements of average spicule length (ICC = 0.770), the length of the major axis (ICC = 0.801) and for the count of the number of spicules (ICC = 0.780). "Fair to good" agreement was observed for the average spicule width (ICC = 0.561). Equivalence was also demonstrated for intraobserver measurements. Physical properties of spiculated masses can be measured reliably on mammography. The interobserver and intraobserver variability for this task is comparable with that reported for other measurements made on medical images.
本研究的目的是评估乳腺钼靶摄影中毛刺状肿块物理特征测量的可靠性。本研究中使用的图像取自乳腺钼靶筛查数字数据库。两位经验丰富的放射科医生测量了21张毛刺状肿块图像的特征。测量了所有毛刺的长度和宽度以及肿块的长轴。此外，观察者还对毛刺的总数进行了计数。使用等效性假设检验、组内相关系数（ICC）和布兰德-奥特曼统计量评估观察者间和观察者内的变异性。对于等效水平为高级放射科医生测量均值的30%，在平均毛刺长度测量（p<0.01）、平均毛刺宽度测量（p = 0.03）、长轴长度测量（p<0.01）和毛刺数量计数（p<0.01）方面均达到了等效性。同样，使用ICC分析技术，在平均毛刺长度测量（ICC = 0.770）、长轴长度测量（ICC = 0.801）和毛刺数量计数（ICC = 0.780）方面观察到“优秀”的观察者间一致性。在平均毛刺宽度测量方面观察到“中等至良好”的一致性（ICC = 0.561）。观察者内测量也证明了等效性。乳腺钼靶摄影中可以可靠地测量毛刺状肿块的物理特征。该任务的观察者间和观察者内变异性与医学图像上其他测量报告的变异性相当。
