Accuracy of plain films, and the effect of experience, in the assessment of ankle effusions

Skeletal Radiology
Michael Karchevsky, M E Schweitzer

Abstract

To investigate the accuracy of plain radiographs, and the effect of observer experience, in the assessment of ankle effusions compared with an MRI gold standard. Anteroposterior (AP) and lateral radiographs of the ankle of 39 patients were evaluated by four observers, ranging from first-year radiology resident to an attending musculoskeletal radiologist. Observers independently graded the lateral films from 0 to 5 at one sitting, and the AP films at a second sitting. All patients had an MRI scan performed within 48 h of the ankle radiographs, on which distention of the anterior recess was used as the gold standard for an effusion. Lateral radiographs had variable sensitivity (range 17-63%), but specificity (81-94%) was usually high. AP radiographs similarly had variable sensitivity (15-55%), but their specificity (63-75%) was surprisingly good. Overall, sensitivity and specificity were inversely proportional and more related to individual variability than experience (observer 1, 53% and 81%; observer 2, 17% and 94%; observer 3, 63% and 88%; observer 4, 21% and 94%); however, individual sensitivity and specificity were consistent between AP and lateral radiographs (observer 1, 53% and 81%, 50% and 65%; observer 2, 17% and 94%, 1...Continue Reading

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Citations

Sep 23, 2009·AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology·Angela W TaiBarbara N Weissman
Sep 17, 2020·Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine : Official Journal of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine·Xing-Zhao LiZhi-Xia Sun
Apr 24, 2021·Open Access Emergency Medicine : OAEM·Josie AcunaSrikar Adhikari

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