Author(s)

G. Mair, R. von Kummer, A. Adami, P. M. White, M. E. Adams, B. Yan, A. M. Demchuk, A. J. Farrall, R. J. Sellar, R. Ramaswamy, D. Mollison, E. V. Boyd, M. A. Rodrigues, K. Samji, A. J. Baird, G. Cohen, E. Sakka, J. Palmer, D. Perry, R. Lindley, P. A. Sandercock, J. M. Wardlaw

ISBN

1432-1920 (Electronic) 0028-3940 (Linking)

Publication year

2014

Periodical

Neuroradiology

Periodical Number

Volume

Pages

Author Address

Division of Neuroimaging Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK.

Full version

INTRODUCTION: CT angiography (CTA) is often used for assessing patients with acute ischaemic stroke. Only limited observer reliability data exist. We tested inter- and intra-observer reliability for the assessment of CTA in acute ischaemic stroke. METHODS: We selected 15 cases from the Third International Stroke Trial (IST-3, ISRCTN25765518) with various degrees of arterial obstruction in different intracranial locations on CTA. To assess inter-observer reliability, seven members of the IST-3 expert image reading panel (>5 years experience reading CTA) and seven radiology trainees (<2 years experience) rated all 15 scans independently and blind to clinical data for: presence (versus absence) of any intracranial arterial abnormality (stenosis or occlusion), severity of arterial abnormality using relevant scales (IST-3 angiography score, Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) score, Clot Burden Score), collateral supply and visibility of a perfusion defect on CTA source images (CTA-SI). Intra-observer reliability was assessed using independently repeated expert panel scan ratings. We assessed observer agreement with Krippendorff's-alpha (K-alpha). RESULTS: Among experienced observers, inter-observer agreement was substantial for the identification of any angiographic abnormality (K-alpha = 0.70) and with an angiography assessment scale (K-alpha = 0.60-0.66). There was less agreement for grades of collateral supply (K-alpha = 0.56) or for identification of a perfusion defect on CTA-SI (K-alpha = 0.32). Radiology trainees performed as well as expert readers when additional training was undertaken (neuroradiology specialist trainees). Intra-observer agreement among experts provided similar results (K-alpha = 0.33-0.72). CONCLUSION: For most imaging characteristics assessed, CTA has moderate to substantial observer agreement in acute ischaemic stroke. Experienced readers and those with specialist training perform best.