Nuclear medicine image interpretation by radiographers: findings of an accredited postgraduate module

Journal article


Lockwood, P. and Dolbear, G. 2018. Nuclear medicine image interpretation by radiographers: findings of an accredited postgraduate module. Radiography. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2018.11.007
AuthorsLockwood, P. and Dolbear, G.
Abstract

Introduction:
The study aimed to analyse the results of radiographer’s image interpretation of nuclear medicine (NM) examinations following a nine-month postgraduate module.

Methods:
Twenty participants completed 60 summative image commentaries each at the end of the module from prospective NM worklists in England. Each submitted a mixed selection of examinations in bone, lung, renal, and thyroid scans. Prevalence of abnormalities was 51% incorporating acute and chronic pathology, normal variants and incidental findings. Every commentary was marked against reference standard radiologist definitive reports. Statistical analysis included Kappa (k), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (RS).

Results:
Bone scan sensitivity and specificity was 93% (95% CI 91.3-95.6) and 88% (95% CI 84.3-90.9) respectively, accuracy at 91.5% (95% CI 88.6-93.7), with k=0.82, ICC= 0.904, RS=0.826. Lung scans demonstrated a sensitivity of 92.6% (95% CI 85.7-96.8), specificity was 92.1% (95% CI 88.7-94.1), accuracy 92.3% (95% CI 87.7-95.0), k=0.83, ICC=0.910, RS=0.835. Renal scan sensitivity was 95% (95% CI 91.0-97.3), with 95.2% specificity (95% CI 91.8-97.3), accuracy were 95% (95% CI 91.4-97.3), k=0.90, ICC=0.948, RS=0.907. Thyroid scans sensitivity was 88% (95% CI 83.1-91.4), with 93% specificity (95% CI 85.9-96.8), accuracy were 90.2% (95% CI 84.3-93.8), k=0.80, ICC=0.897, RS=0.813.

Conclusion:
In this small pilot study, the image interpretation ability in assessing prospective NM examinations in a clinical environment displayed encouraging results. Further work is recommended to evaluate a larger sample and case selection.

KeywordsRadiography; Image interpretation; Radiographers
Year2018
JournalRadiography
PublisherElsevier
ISSN1078-8174
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2018.11.007
Related URLhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1078817418301755
https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/radiography
Fundernone
Publication dates
Online10 Dec 2018
Publication process dates
Deposited11 Dec 2018
Accepted27 Nov 2018
Accepted author manuscript
Output statusPublished
References

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ContributorsDolbear, G.
Page range1-7
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