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Karger Publishers, Neurodegenerative Diseases, 3-4(16), p. 279-283, 2015

DOI: 10.1159/000441420

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Visual Assessment of Age-Related White Matter Hyperintensities Using FLAIR Images at 3 T: Inter- and Intra-Rater Agreement

This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.
This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.

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Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Age-related white matter hyperintensities are frequent incidental findings on T2-weighted brain MRI, and they are evaluated in clinical practice using a visual rating scale. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> To evaluate inter- and intra-rater agreement in MRI visual evaluations of age-related white matter hyperintensities made by two radiologists with different levels of experience using a visual rating scale. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Two radiologists of two different levels of experience separately rated age-related white matter hyperintensities in 40 consecutive 3-tesla brain MRI scans using the Fazekas and Schmidt visual rating scale. Ratings were made on axial FLAIR (fluid-attenuated inversion recovery) sequences. Two readings were made by each radiologist. Intra- and inter-rater agreement was statistically determined by using Cohen's weighted kappa analysis. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Forty patients (21 females, 19 males; mean age = 57 ± 18.43 years) were included between September and October 2011. Mean values ± SD for visual scores were as follows: periventricular hyperintensities, between 1.175 ± 0.9 and 1.375 ± 0.89; number of deep white matter hyperintensity lesions, between 1.325 ± 1.18 and 1.575 ± 1.15, and extent of deep white matter hyperintensity lesions, between 0.925 ± 0.78 and 1.1 ± 0.74. Intra- and inter-rater agreement was very good (κ values, 0.85-0.91 and 0.80-0.97, respectively) for each of the three visual scale criteria, with significant correlations between ratings (r = 0.95; p < 0.0001) and readings (r = 0.91; p < 0.0001). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Visual assessment of age-related white matter hyperintensities by radiologists using a visual scale on FLAIR sequence is reproducible. Differences in experience level do not influence readings. Visual scale use is thus justified in common practice.