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Pediatr Radiol (2007) 37:291296 DOI 10.1007/s00247-006-0401-1
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Accuracy of radiographer reporting of paediatric brain CT
Andrew Brandt & Savvas Andronikou &
Nicki Wieselthaler & Brand Louw & Tracy Kilborn &
Gerrit Dekker & Jessica Bertelsman & Catherine Dreyer
Received: 5 September 2006 / Revised: 11 December 2006 / Accepted: 13 December 2006 / Published online: 1 February 2007 # Springer-Verlag 2007
Abstract Background Radiographer reporting has been studied for plain films and for ultrasonography, but not in paediatric brain CT in the emergency setting. Objective To study the accuracy of radiographer reporting in paediatric brain CT.Materials and methods We prospectively collected 100 paediatric brain CT examinations. Films were read from hard copies using a prescribed tick sheet. Radiographers with 12 years and 3 years experience, respectively, were blinded to the history and were not trained in diagnostic film interpretation. The radiographers results were compared with those of a consultant radiologist. Three categories were defined: abnormal scans, significant abnormalities and insignificant abnormalities. Results Both radiographers had an accuracy of 89.5% in reading a scan correctly as abnormal, and radiographer 1
had a sensitivity of 87.8% and radiographer 2 a sensitivity of 96%. Radiographer 1 had an accuracy in detecting a significant abnormality of 75% and radiographer 2 an accuracy of 48.6%, and the sensitivities for this category were 61.6% and 52.9%, respectively. Results for detecting the insignificant abnormalities were poorer. Conclusions Selected radiographers could play an effective screening role, but lacking the sensitivity required for detecting significant abnormality, they could not be the final diagnostician. We recommend that the study be repeated after both radiographers have received formal training in interpretation of paediatric brain CT.
Keywords Brain . Reporting . CT . Accuracy . Radiographer . Children
A. Brandt : S. Andronikou : B. Louw : G. Dekker Department of Radiology, Tygerberg Academic Hospital, Private Bag X3, Tygerberg,7905 Cape Town, South Africa
S. Andronikoue-mail: [email protected]
B. Louwe-mail: [email protected]
G. Dekkere-mail: [email protected]
A. Brandt (*)1 Grove Village,Stuart Road, Rondebosch, 7700 Cape Town, South Africa e-mail: [email protected]
S. Andronikou University of Stellenbosch,P.O. Box 19063, Tygerberg, 7905 Cape Town, South Africa
N. Wieselthaler : T. Kilborn : J. Bertelsman : C. Dreyer Department of Radiology, Red Cross War Memorial Childrens Hospital, Klipfontein Road, Rondebosch,7700 Cape Town, South Africa