RSNA-STR-ACR Consensus Statement for COVID-19 CT Patterns: Interreader Agreement in 240 Consecutive Patients and Association With RT-PCR Status. Issue 3 (4th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Silva, Claudio F.; Alegria, Julia; Ramos, Cristobal; Verdugo, Jaime; Diaz, Juan-Carlos; Varela, Cristian; Barbe, Mario
• Is Part Of: Journal of computer assisted tomography. Volume 45:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 485
• Page End: 489
• Publication Date: 2021-05-04
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- CT -- interreader agreement -- reliability -- SARS-CoV-2; Tomography -- Periodicals; Tomography -- Periodicals; Tomography; Periodicals; 616.0757
• DOI: 10.1097/RCT.0000000000001162
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0363-8715

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: The aim of this study was to study interreader agreement of the RSNA-STR-ACR (Radiological Society of North America/Society of Thoracic Radiology/American College of Radiology) consensus statement on reporting chest computed tomography (CT) findings related to COVID-19 on a sample of consecutive patients confirmed with reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Materials and Methods: This institutional review board–approved retrospective study included 240 cases with a mean age of 47.6 ± 15.9 years, ranging from 20 to 90 years, who had a chest CT and RT-PCR performed. Computed tomography images were independently analyzed by 2 thoracic radiologists to identify patterns defined by the RSNA-STR-ACR consensus statement, and concordance was determined with weighted κ tests. Also, CT findings and CT severity scores were tabulated and compared. Results: Of the 240 cases, 118 had findings on CT. The most frequent on the RT-PCR–positive group were areas of ground-glass opacities (80.5%), crazy-paving pattern (32.2%), and rounded pseudonodular ground-glass opacities (22.9%). Regarding the CT patterns, the most frequent in the RT-PCR–positive group was typical in 75.9%, followed by negative in 17.1%. The interreader agreement was 0.90 (95% confidence interval, 0.80–0.96) in this group. The CT severity score had a mean difference of −0.07 (95% confidence interval, −0.48 to 0.34) among the readers, showing no significant differences regarding visual estimation. Conclusions: The RSNA-STR-ACR consensus statement on reporting chest CT patterns for COVID-19 presents a high interreader agreement, with the typical pattern being more frequently associated with RT-PCR–positive examinations.