Sein ML, Walton J, Linklater J, Harris C, Dugal T, Appleyard R, Kirkbride B, Kuah D, Murrell GAC. Reliability of MRI assessment of supraspinatus tendinopathy.
Br J Sports Med 2007;
41:e9. [PMID:
17289860 PMCID:
PMC2465433 DOI:
10.1136/bjsm.2006.034421]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To determine the interobserver and intraobserver reliability of the interpretation of MRIs for supraspinatus tendinosis.
METHODS
In the interobserver trial, the MRIs of 52 athletes' shoulders were observed by 3 observers on one occasion within a 2-month period. All 52 images were read by the most experienced musculoskeletal radiologist on 3 different occasions on separate days without access to the previous readings for the intraobserver trial. Supraspinatus tendinosis was graded using a modified 4-point scale from grades 0 to grade 3.
RESULTS
The grading of MRI-determined supraspinatus tendinosis was reliable, having an intraclass correlation (ICC) of 0.85 when assessed by the single well-trained observer. Interobserver reliability was only fair to good (ICC = 0.55).
CONCLUSIONS
Supraspinatus tendinosis can be accurately identified on MRI with little variation by a single well-trained observer. Interobserver reliability was only fair to good. Our data indicated that the reliability of the assessment was much greater in more experienced radiologists than in those with less experience.
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