ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Several imaging-based scoring systems have been used as outcome measures in assessing the severity of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. It has been shown that chest radiography performs equally to computed tomography (CT). There is the opinion that of the two most commonly used chest radiograph (CXR) systems, the Brasfield system is less sensitive and reliable than the Wisconsin system. OBJECTIVE: This report assesses the reproducibility and reliability of the two systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with CXRs during a 5-year period were randomly selected. One hundred eighty-two studies had data for all CXRs and pulmonary function tests (PFTs), Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second (FEV-1) and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC). PFT values closest to the date of each CXR were recorded. Four radiologists scored each image twice by both the Brasfield and Wisconsin systems. Intra- and inter-rater reliability, correlation with PFTs and direct correlation of the two systems were calculated. RESULTS: Intra-rater agreement: r = 0.86-0.99 Brasfield, r = 0.78-0.96 Wisconsin. Inter-rater agreement: 0.76-0.90 Brasfield, r = 0.74-0.97 Wisconsin. Brasfield vs. FEV-1: r = 0.55, vs. FVC r = 0.61. Wisconsin vs. FEV-1: r = 0.57, vs. FVC r = 0.66. Correlation of the two systems: r = 0.86 (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The Brasfield and Wisconsin systems performed very similarly providing equally reproducible, robust and reliable measures.
Subject(s)
Cystic Fibrosis/diagnosis , Outcome Assessment, Health Care/methods , Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted/methods , Radiography, Thoracic/methods , Respiratory Function Tests/methods , Severity of Illness Index , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Observer Variation , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and Specificity , Single-Blind MethodABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine common imaging features of low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS), a rare subtype of fibrosarcoma with a benign histological appearance but with a propensity for local recurrence and metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: By review of medical records, 29 patients (14 males, 15 females) with mean age of 41 years (range, 11-64 years) with diagnosis of LGFMS and imaging available in PACS were identified. The study included radiography (9/29), ultrasound (1/29), CT (14/29), and MRI (22/29). Imaging features evaluated included anatomic site, and lesion size, number, location, US echogenicity, CT attenuation, calcifications, MR signal intensity pattern, and contrast enhancement. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients had imaging at initial diagnosis, and seven had imaging only at local recurrence. The majority of tumors (27/29) were deep in tissue, with mean size of 6.2 cm (range, 1.4-19.0 cm). Tumor was single at initial diagnosis and multiple at local recurrence; lower extremity was the most common site. On radiographs, tumor was visible in four of nine without bone erosion or calcification. Areas of CT attenuation hypodense to muscle were seen in 13/14 patients. Calcification was uncommon (3/14). On fluid-sensitive MRI sequences, the predominant signal intensity was hyperintense to muscle in 11/21 patients. In 13/21 patients, tumor displayed either a brain gyriform pattern of alternating hypointense and hyperintense signal intensity (9/13) or intralesional nodules (3/13); 1 case had both patterns. On US tumor was solid with heterogeneous echogenicity. CONCLUSION: LGFMS is commonly single at initial diagnosis and multiple at local recurrence. LGFMS frequently shows areas of CT attenuation hypodense to muscle and gyriform patterns of signal intensity and contrast enhancement at MRI.
