Inter-reader agreement for diagnosing thymic cysts on chest MRI in two tertiary referral centers
Abstract Despite the substantial role of chest MRI for the diagnosis and follow-up of thymic cysts, information about inter-reader agreement and optimal MR sequences is still limited. We aimed to investigate the inter-reader agreement for diagnosing thymic cysts using various combinations of MR sequ...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| author | Yura Ahn Sang Min Lee Chu Hyun Kim Sehee Kim Jooae Choe Joon Beom Seo Ho Yun Lee |
| author_facet | Yura Ahn Sang Min Lee Chu Hyun Kim Sehee Kim Jooae Choe Joon Beom Seo Ho Yun Lee |
| author_sort | Yura Ahn |
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| description | Abstract Despite the substantial role of chest MRI for the diagnosis and follow-up of thymic cysts, information about inter-reader agreement and optimal MR sequences is still limited. We aimed to investigate the inter-reader agreement for diagnosing thymic cysts using various combinations of MR sequences and to assess the effect of the addition of CT on inter-reader agreement. A total of 76 anterior mediastinal lesions (≤ 30 mm) from two tertiary referral hospitals (55 from Institution A and 21 from Institution B) who underwent chest CT and contrast-enhanced chest MR were included. Internal and external reading sets consisted of different combinations of MR sequences (pre- and post-contrast T1-weighted, T2-weighted, subtracted images, and diffusion-weighted imaging [DWI]/apparent diffusion coefficient [ADC] map) and CT. Four and three radiologists independently reviewed internal and external reading sets. The overall inter-reader agreement was moderate (κ = 0.50–0.57) for diagnosing cysts without significant differences between MR sequence combinations (all p-values > 0.05). The mean pairwise inter-reader agreement was the highest (κ = 0.65) when both the subtracted image and DWI/ADC map were provided. The addition of CT had no positive effect on the inter-reader agreement in the internal reading set (κ, from 0.57 to 0.50) but increased inter-reader agreement in the external reading set from moderate (κ = 0.48) to substantial (κ = 0.74). In conclusion, the overall inter-reader agreement for diagnosing thymic cysts on MRI was moderate. MR sequences including both the subtracted image and DWI/ADC map may be optimal in terms of inter-reader agreement. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2bce757af4f6424aaa6f22caef8425c7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-2bce757af4f6424aaa6f22caef8425c72025-02-09T12:36:40ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-88975-5Inter-reader agreement for diagnosing thymic cysts on chest MRI in two tertiary referral centersYura Ahn0Sang Min Lee1Chu Hyun Kim2Sehee Kim3Jooae Choe4Joon Beom Seo5Ho Yun Lee6Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical CenterDepartment of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical CenterDepartment of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of MedicineDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical CenterDepartment of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical CenterDepartment of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical CenterDepartment of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of MedicineAbstract Despite the substantial role of chest MRI for the diagnosis and follow-up of thymic cysts, information about inter-reader agreement and optimal MR sequences is still limited. We aimed to investigate the inter-reader agreement for diagnosing thymic cysts using various combinations of MR sequences and to assess the effect of the addition of CT on inter-reader agreement. A total of 76 anterior mediastinal lesions (≤ 30 mm) from two tertiary referral hospitals (55 from Institution A and 21 from Institution B) who underwent chest CT and contrast-enhanced chest MR were included. Internal and external reading sets consisted of different combinations of MR sequences (pre- and post-contrast T1-weighted, T2-weighted, subtracted images, and diffusion-weighted imaging [DWI]/apparent diffusion coefficient [ADC] map) and CT. Four and three radiologists independently reviewed internal and external reading sets. The overall inter-reader agreement was moderate (κ = 0.50–0.57) for diagnosing cysts without significant differences between MR sequence combinations (all p-values > 0.05). The mean pairwise inter-reader agreement was the highest (κ = 0.65) when both the subtracted image and DWI/ADC map were provided. The addition of CT had no positive effect on the inter-reader agreement in the internal reading set (κ, from 0.57 to 0.50) but increased inter-reader agreement in the external reading set from moderate (κ = 0.48) to substantial (κ = 0.74). In conclusion, the overall inter-reader agreement for diagnosing thymic cysts on MRI was moderate. MR sequences including both the subtracted image and DWI/ADC map may be optimal in terms of inter-reader agreement.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88975-5MRIThymic cystObserver variationThymomaAnterior mediastinum |
| spellingShingle | Yura Ahn Sang Min Lee Chu Hyun Kim Sehee Kim Jooae Choe Joon Beom Seo Ho Yun Lee Inter-reader agreement for diagnosing thymic cysts on chest MRI in two tertiary referral centers Scientific Reports MRI Thymic cyst Observer variation Thymoma Anterior mediastinum |
| title | Inter-reader agreement for diagnosing thymic cysts on chest MRI in two tertiary referral centers |
| title_full | Inter-reader agreement for diagnosing thymic cysts on chest MRI in two tertiary referral centers |
| title_fullStr | Inter-reader agreement for diagnosing thymic cysts on chest MRI in two tertiary referral centers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Inter-reader agreement for diagnosing thymic cysts on chest MRI in two tertiary referral centers |
| title_short | Inter-reader agreement for diagnosing thymic cysts on chest MRI in two tertiary referral centers |
| title_sort | inter reader agreement for diagnosing thymic cysts on chest mri in two tertiary referral centers |
| topic | MRI Thymic cyst Observer variation Thymoma Anterior mediastinum |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88975-5 |
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