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Intraobserver and Interobserver Variability in Ultrasound Measurements of Thyroid Nodules
Author(s) -
Lee Hyung Jin,
Yoon Dae Young,
Seo Young Lan,
Kim Jin Ho,
Baek Sora,
Lim Kyoung Ja,
Cho Young Kwon,
Yun Eun Joo
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.1002/jum.14316
Subject(s) - medicine , thyroid nodules , nuclear medicine , nodule (geology) , ultrasound , thyroid , radiology , paleontology , biology
Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the intraobserver and interobserver variability in ultrasound (US) measurements of thyroid nodules. Methods We performed a prospective study of the US examinations of 73 patients with 122 thyroid nodules greater than 5 mm in size. Ultrasound measurements in 4 dimensions (anteroposterior, transverse, longitudinal, and maximum diameters) and measurement of the estimated volume (using the ellipsoid formula) of each thyroid nodule were performed twice by 2 independent radiologists (A and B, with 10 years and 6 months of experience, respectively). The intraobserver and interobserver variability in measurements of thyroid nodules was assessed by a Bland‐Altman analysis of agreement. The absolute values for intraobserver and interobserver variability were compared by a paired t test. Results The 95% intraobserver and interobserver limits of agreement for the anteroposterior, transverse, longitudinal, and maximum diameters and estimated volume of thyroid nodules were ±18.2%, ± 14.3%, and ±21.0%; ± 17.2%%, ± 17.3%, and 18.2%; ± 14.6%, ± 15.5%, and ±22.3%; ± 13.8%, ± 15.5%, and ±19.6%; and ±30.2%, ± 27.7%, and ±44.1%, respectively. The absolute values for intraobserver variability were lower than those for interobserver variability for all measurements. Conclusions There was considerable intraobserver and interobserver variability in US measurement of thyroid nodules, which must be taken into account during follow‐up US examinations of patients with thyroid nodules.