Ultrasound methods to distinguish between malignant and benign adnexal masses in the hands of examiners with different levels of experience

• Objectives To determine the effect of an ultrasound training course on the performance of pattern recognition when used by less experienced examiners and to compare the performance of pattern recognition, a logistic regression model and a scoring system to estimate the risk of malignancy between examiners with different levels of experience. Methods Using ultrasound images of selected adnexal masses, two trainees classified the masses as benign or malignant by using pattern recognition both before and after they bad attended a theoretical gynecological ultrasound course. They also classified the masses by using a logistic regression model and a scoring system, but only after they bad attended the course. The performance of these three methods when they were used by the trainees was then compared with that when they were used by experts. Results One hundred and sixty-five adnexal masses were included, of which 42% were malignant (21% invasive tumors and 21% borderline tumors). The area under the receiver- operating characteristics curve of pattern recognition when used by the trainees was similar before and after they had attended the course. Training decreased sensitivity (84% vs. 70% for Trainee 1, P = 0.004; 70% vs. 61% for Trainee2, P = 0.08) and increased specificity (77% vs. 92% for Trainee 1, P = 0.001; 89% vs. 95% for Trainee 2, P = 0.058). The performance of pattern recognition was poorer in the hands of the trainees than in the bands of the experts. The sensitivities of the logistic regression model were 70% and 54% for the trainees vs. 83% for an expert (P = 0.020 and < 0.001, respectively) and the specificities were 84% and 94% vs. 89% (P = 0.25 and 0.59, respectively). The sensitivities of the scoring system were 59% and 54% for the trainees vs. 75% for the expert (P = 0.002 and < 0.001, respectively), and the specificities were 90% and 93% vs. 85% (P = 0.103 and 0.008, respectively). Conclusion Theoretical ultrasound teaching did not seem to improve the performance of pattern recognition in the bands of trainees. A logistic regression model and a scoring system to classify adnexal masses as benign or malignant perform less well when they were used by inexperienced examiners than when used by an expert. Before using a model or a scoring system, experience and/or proper training are likely to be of paramount importance if diagnostic performance is to be optimized. Copyright (C) 2009 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Radiologi och bildbehandling (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

models

statistical

risk of malignancy

ovarian neoplasms

pattern recognition

subjective impression

ultrasound

Publikations- och innehållstyp

art (ämneskategori)

ref (ämneskategori)