OBJECTIVE: To assess the interobserver variability of unenhanced helical computed tomography (UHCT) in patients with acute renal colic admitted into a low-volume hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All admissions with acute renal colic between August 2002 and February 2004 (18 months) were registered. A total of 133 CT scans were performed on patients suspected of having a stone in the urinary tract (< 24 h after admission). All records were subsequently evaluated, the acute CT scans were re-evaluated by a radiological specialist. Interobserver agreements were assessed by means of Kappa analysis. RESULTS: A total of 133 consecutive patients met the criteria for inclusion, of whom 62 were women and 71 were men. A total of 67 stones in 53 patients were identified. The variability of the radiological diagnosis (doctors under training and one consultant) was calculated, and the Kappa values were +0.66 and +0.69 for stones on the right and left side, respectively. The Kappa values for stones in ureter and the kidney were +0.79 and +0.52, respectively. In addition to stone disease, there were additional diagnoses in 30 patients (23%), out of whom seven had a malignant tumor. CONCLUSION: In a low-volume hospital with fewer than 100 procedures a year, we found the UHCT method to be safe and reliable with a good interobserver agreement and Kappa value.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the interobserver variability of unenhanced helical computed tomography (UHCT) in patients with acute renal colic admitted into a low-volume hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All admissions with acute renal colic between August 2002 and February 2004 (18 months) were registered. A total of 133 CT scans were performed on patients suspected of having a stone in the urinary tract (< 24 h after admission). All records were subsequently evaluated, the acute CT scans were re-evaluated by a radiological specialist. Interobserver agreements were assessed by means of Kappa analysis. RESULTS: A total of 133 consecutive patients met the criteria for inclusion, of whom 62 were women and 71 were men. A total of 67 stones in 53 patients were identified. The variability of the radiological diagnosis (doctors under training and one consultant) was calculated, and the Kappa values were +0.66 and +0.69 for stones on the right and left side, respectively. The Kappa values for stones in ureter and the kidney were +0.79 and +0.52, respectively. In addition to stone disease, there were additional diagnoses in 30 patients (23%), out of whom seven had a malignant tumor. CONCLUSION: In a low-volume hospital with fewer than 100 procedures a year, we found the UHCT method to be safe and reliable with a good interobserver agreement and Kappa value.
Authors: Bong Soo Kim; Im Kyung Hwang; Yo Won Choi; Sook Namkung; Heung Cheol Kim; Woo Cheol Hwang; Kuk Myung Choi; Ji Kang Park; Tae Il Han; Weechang Kang Journal: Acta Radiol Date: 2005-11 Impact factor: 1.990
Authors: Stephen S Connolly; Choudhry Younis; William Meade; Ruth Gallagher; Raymond Lovett; Adrian Brady; Edward Fitzgerald; Eamonn Rogers; Paul Sweeney Journal: BJU Int Date: 2004-12 Impact factor: 5.588
Authors: O F Miller; S K Rineer; S R Reichard; R G Buckley; M S Donovan; I R Graham; W B Goff; C J Kane Journal: Urology Date: 1998-12 Impact factor: 2.649
Authors: Vincent G Bird; Orlando Gomez-Marin; Raymond J Leveillee; George N Sfakianakis; Luis A Rivas; Marco A Amendola Journal: J Urol Date: 2002-04 Impact factor: 7.450