Korean Journal of Radiology

The Korean Society of Radiology (대한영상의학회)
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Are Lung Imaging Reporting and Data System Categories Clear to Radiologists? A Survey of the Korean Society of Thoracic Radiology Members on Ten Difficult-to-Classify Scenarios

  • Han, Dae Hee (Department of Radiology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Goo, Jin Mo (Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center) ;
  • Chong, Semin (Department of Radiology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine) ;
  • Ahn, Myeong Im (Department of Radiology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea)
  • Received : 2016.06.26
  • Accepted : 2016.09.20
  • Published : 2017.04.01
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Abstract

Objective: To evaluate possible variability in chest radiologists' interpretations of the Lung Imaging Reporting and Data System (Lung-RADS) on difficult-to-classify scenarios. Materials and Methods: Ten scenarios of difficult-to-classify imaginary lung nodules were prepared as an online survey that targeted Korean Society of Thoracic Radiology members. In each question, a description was provided of the size, consistency, and interval change (new or growing) of a lung nodule observed using annual repeat computed tomography, and the respondent was instructed to choose one answer from five choices: category 2, 3, 4A, or 4B, or "un-categorizable." Consensus answers were established by members of the Korean Imaging Study Group for Lung Cancer. Results: Of the 420 answers from 42 respondents (excluding multiple submissions), 310 (73.8%) agreed with the consensus answers; eleven (26.2%) respondents agreed with the consensus answers to six or fewer questions. Assigning the imaginary nodules to categories higher than the consensus answer was more frequent (16.0%) than assigning them to lower categories (5.5%), and the agreement rate was below 50% for two scenarios. Conclusion: When given difficult-to-classify scenarios, chest radiologists showed large variability in their interpretations of the Lung-RADS categories, with high frequencies of disagreement in some specific scenarios.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Supported by : Ministry for Health and Welfare

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