Department of Veterinary Medical Science, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Ozzano Emilia, Italy.
Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2021 Jul;62(4):402-412. doi: 10.1111/vru.12970. Epub 2021 Apr 8.
Computed tomography (CT) is increasingly available to evaluate dogs with suspected adrenal disease, however, published studies describing the reproducibility of CT methods for quantifying adrenal gland (AG) measurements are lacking. This prospective, pilot, observer agreement study aimed to evaluate reproducibility and repeatability of two different methods of measurement of AGs on CT to establish a usable technique and define standard reference ranges. Multiplanar reformatted (MPR) CT images of both AGs of six large breed dogs were obtained with the MPR axis parallel to the spine and parallel to the long axis of the AG. Ten measurements were performed: maximal length and diameter at cranial and caudal poles on dorsal, sagittal, and transverse images; and minimal diameter of cranial and caudal poles on transverse images. Three observers with different levels of experience repeated these measurements three times for each dog. Intra- and interobserver variability were calculated through intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The differences in time to perform measurements between the two methods were tested with Student's t-test. Regardless of the measurement method used, length of AGs on dorsal and sagittal MPR images had the lowest intra- and inter-observer variability (ICC = 0.93-0.99), diameter of caudal pole on transverse plane showed low intra- and interobserver variability (ICC = 0.77-0.80) and diameter of cranial pole had the highest variability (ICC = 0.12-0.61). Although length was the less variable measurement, its use may be unrealistic in daily practice. Interestingly measurement of caudal pole on transverse plane was characterized by low intra- and interobserver variability. No difference in time performing the measurements was noted between the two methods.
计算机断层扫描（CT）越来越多地用于评估疑似肾上腺疾病的犬，但缺乏描述 CT 方法用于定量测量肾上腺（AG）的可重复性的已发表研究。本前瞻性、初步、观察者间一致性研究旨在评估两种不同的 CT 测量 AG 方法的重复性和可重复性，以建立一种可用的技术并定义标准参考范围。使用 MPR 轴与脊柱平行且与 AG 长轴平行的多平面重建（MPR）CT 图像获得了 6 只大型犬的双侧 AG 的 MPR CT 图像。进行了 10 次测量：背侧、矢状和横断位图像上颅侧和尾侧极的最大长度和直径；横断位图像上颅侧和尾侧极的最小直径。三位具有不同经验水平的观察者为每只狗重复了这些测量三次。通过组内相关系数（ICC）计算了观察者内和观察者间的变异性。使用学生 t 检验检验了两种方法之间进行测量的时间差异。无论使用哪种测量方法，AG 在背侧和矢状 MPR 图像上的长度的观察者内和观察者间变异性最低（ICC=0.93-0.99），横断位上的尾极直径的观察者内和观察者间变异性较低（ICC=0.77-0.80），而颅极直径的变异性最高（ICC=0.12-0.61）。尽管长度是变异性最小的测量值，但在日常实践中可能不切实际。有趣的是，横断位上的尾极测量具有较低的观察者内和观察者间变异性。两种方法在进行测量的时间上没有差异。
