Open AccessNew endoscopic ultrasonography criteria for malignant lymphadenopathy based on inter-rater agreement
Author(s) -
Yusuke Takasaki,
Atsushi Irisawa,
Goro Shibukawa,
Ai Sato,
Yoko Abe,
Akane Yamabe,
Noriyuki Arakawa,
Takumi Maki,
Yuichiro Yoshida,
Ryo Igarashi,
Shozo Yamamoto,
Tsunehiko Ikeda
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0212427
Subject(s) - echogenicity , medicine , kappa , hilum (anatomy) , radiology , lymph node , cervical lymphadenopathy , lymph , confidence interval , adenitis , nuclear medicine , pathology , ultrasonography , mathematics , geometry , disease
Background and aims Various studies have been previously conducted on the diagnosis of lymphadenopathy as benign or malignant, but the results vary. These studies did not describe the inter-rater agreement on the EUS features of lymphadenopathy. In this study, we evaluate the inter-rater agreement on EUS features and propose EUS diagnostic norms for lymphadenopathy based on inter-rater agreement. Method A total of 68 lymph nodes subjected to EUS-fine needle aspiration (FNA) were reviewed by five endoscopic experts. The EUS features evaluated lymph node size, shape, border, margin, echogenicity, homogeneity, and the hilum of the lymph node. Inter-rater agreement (multi-rater kappa statics) was performed. We established new criteria using results with a high degree of inter-rater agreement from EUS features and compared them with the former criteria. Result There was a moderate agreement on shape, kappa ( K ) = 0.44 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.34–0.54), and fair agreement on echogenicity, homogeneity, border, and hilum of the lymph node, K (95% CI) = 0.33 (0.17–0.38), 0.34 (0.26–0.35), 0.22 (0.21–0.31), and 0.22 (0.11–0.26), respectively. This resulted in the establishment of new EUS diagnostic criteria using shape, long axis > 20 mm and short axis > 10 mm. New criteria were superior to old criteria (area under the curve 0.82 vs 0.52, P < 0.001). Conclusion EUS diagnostic criteria for lymphadenopathy based on inter-rater agreement were more accurate than old criteria. This result will be useful for the diagnosis of lymphadenopathy.