Inter-observer reliability in ultrasound measurement of benign thyroid nodules in the follow-up of radiofrequency ablation: a retrospective study
Purpose To investigate the inter-observer reliability of ultrasound (US) measurement in volume and volume reduction rate (VRR) of benign thyroid nodules during the follow-up of radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Materials This retrospective study evaluated 76 patients with 88 benign thyroid nodules who...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2020-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Hyperthermia |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02656736.2020.1849826 |
| Summary: | Purpose To investigate the inter-observer reliability of ultrasound (US) measurement in volume and volume reduction rate (VRR) of benign thyroid nodules during the follow-up of radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Materials This retrospective study evaluated 76 patients with 88 benign thyroid nodules who underwent RFA. Two independent observers performed the US measurements during the same follow-up visit. The Bland–Altman analysis was used to evaluate the inter-observer reliability of volume and VRR (logarithmic transformation). The mean difference and 95% limits-of-agreement (LOA) were obtained after antilogarithm. Results No significant differences were found in the volume and VRR measurements during a mean follow-up time of 35.52 ± 12.82 months. After antilogarithms, the mean difference of volume was 0.9961, 0.9987, 1.0016, 0.9972, 0.9977 and 0.9969 at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months, respectively. The 95% LOA of volume became wider over the follow-up period, and the largest one was between 0.8471 and 1.1733 at 36 months. The 95% LOA of VRR became narrower over the follow-up period, and the largest one was between 0.9541 and 1.0469 at 1 month. The incidence of regrowth was 20.45% and the largest 95% LOA of regrowth nodules was between 0.9028 and 1.284 at 12 months. At the same follow-up period, VRR had a narrower 95% LOA than volume. Compared with volume ≥10 ml, nodules <10 ml revealed a larger 95% LOA in both the volume and VRR. Conclusion The inter-observer reliability of the US measurements of benign thyroid nodules during the follow-up period of RFA was acceptable. The variation by different observers could not affect the evaluation of efficacy. |
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| ISSN: | 0265-6736 1464-5157 |