Inter-observer variation of the Alberta Stoke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) among radiologists in the Philippine General Hospital

ABSTRACT

@#<p style="text-align justify;"><strong>Objective:</strong> To determine the inter-observer variation of ASPECTS among radiologists in the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), particularly between trainee radiologists and an expert reader.</p><p style="text-align justify;"><strong>Methods:</strong> Thirty (30) cranial CT scan studies of clinically-diagnosed, non-hemorrhagic stroke patients were analyzed by 9 trainee radiologists (3 fellows, and 3 senior and 3 junior residents) and one expert reader. Data analysis involved determining the levels of agreement within and across groups, and against the expert reader.</p><p style="text-align justify;"><strong>Results and Conclusion:</strong> There was moderate agreement (kappa = 0.60) between the junior residents and the expert reader, and substantial agreement between the senior residents and the expert reader (kappa = 0.70), as well as between the fellows and the expert reader (kappa = 0.63). Over-all, there was a substantial agreement between the trainee radiologists and the expert reader (kappa = 0.63). It can be concluded that the interpretation of trainee radiologists in PGH, particularly that of a senior resident or a fellow, is comparable with that of an expert reader, and can, thus, be useful in cases where an interpretation of a CT scan procedure in a clinically-diagnosed stroke patient is needed.</p>