Published in:
01-08-2021 | Angiography | ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Equilibrium radionuclide angiography: Intra- and inter-observer repeatability and reproducibility in the assessment of cardiac systolic and diastolic function
Published in: Journal of Nuclear Cardiology | Issue 4/2021
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Background
This study aimed to assess intra- and inter-observer agreement in assessing the systolic and diastolic function with equilibrium radionuclide angiography (ERNA).
Materials and methods
Thirty-two adults underwent baseline and repeat ERNA. An experienced and a trainee operator analyzed the data by assigning regions of interest manually, fully automatically, and semi-automatically. The Bland-Altman statistic (mean ± 1.96 standard deviations of the differences) was used to assess the repeatability (two different assessments of a single acquisition) and reproducibility (assessments of two different acquisitions).
Results
Using the semi-automated technique the intraobserver repeatability and reproducibility of left ventricular ejection fraction for the experienced physician were − 0.1 ± 3.7 and 0.0 ± 3.8 and for the trainee 2.2 ± 10.6 and 1.9 ± 8.4, respectively. The inter-observer repeatability and reproducibility were − 1.8 ± 6.4 and 0.4 ± 9.0, respectively. Among the parameters of diastolic function, the intraobserver repeatability and reproducibility of the peak filling rate for the experienced physician were − 0.0 ± 1.1 and − 0.1 ± 1.1 and for the trainee 0.2 ± 3.5 and 0.4 ± 3.7, respectively. The inter-observer repeatability and reproducibility were 0.3 ± 1.5 and 0.5 ± 4.0, respectively. Similar was the pattern for the other diastolic indices. In all cases the limits of agreement varied according to the quantification approach.
Conclusion
A good repeatability but a moderate reproducibility was found in the assessment of the LVEF. Less good were the findings in the assessment of diastolic function.