PURPOSE: To compare the interobserver reliability of the palpation method with the method of measuring tissue compliance with a tissue compliance meter (TCM) on women who underwent breast-conserving surgery and radiotherapy for breast cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Thirty-eight patients and 30 controls were measured with the palpation method by two radiation oncologists and with the TCM by two physiotherapists. Measurements were taken on four locations of the breasts of all 68 women. Reliability coefficients were computed for both methods. A weighted kappa score was computed for the palpation method and this was compared with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) computed for the TCM method. The conditions for direct comparison of these scores were met in this study. RESULTS: A weighted kappa of 0.65 was computed for the palpation method and an ICC of 0.91 was computed for the TCM method. These scores differ significantly from each other (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The interobserver reliability of the TCM method is superior to that of the palpation method. However, at locations where the TCM is not applicable, palpation is a good alternative.
PURPOSE: To compare the interobserver reliability of the palpation method with the method of measuring tissue compliance with a tissue compliance meter (TCM) on women who underwent breast-conserving surgery and radiotherapy for breast cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Thirty-eight patients and 30 controls were measured with the palpation method by two radiation oncologists and with the TCM by two physiotherapists. Measurements were taken on four locations of the breasts of all 68 women. Reliability coefficients were computed for both methods. A weighted kappa score was computed for the palpation method and this was compared with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) computed for the TCM method. The conditions for direct comparison of these scores were met in this study. RESULTS: A weighted kappa of 0.65 was computed for the palpation method and an ICC of 0.91 was computed for the TCM method. These scores differ significantly from each other (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The interobserver reliability of the TCM method is superior to that of the palpation method. However, at locations where the TCM is not applicable, palpation is a good alternative.
Authors: Jose Luis Lopez; Patricia Cabrera; Rafael Ordoñez; Catalina Marquez; Gema Lucia Ramirez; Juan Manuel Praena-Fernandez; Maria Jose Ortiz Journal: Rep Pract Oncol Radiother Date: 2011-03-12
Authors: Albertus N van Geel; Titia E Lans; Roel Haen; Rudi Tjong Joe Wai; Marian B E Menke-Pluijmers Journal: World J Surg Date: 2011-03 Impact factor: 3.352
Authors: Nhu-Tram A Nguyen; David Roberge; Carolyn R Freeman; Cindy Wong; Jerod Hines; Robert E Turcotte Journal: Technol Cancer Res Treat Date: 2013-08-31