Diagnostic accuracy and interobserver agreement of CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS—Computed tomographic (CT) colonography or virtual colonoscopy (VC) is a non-invasive imaging method proposed for screening patients with colorectal neoplasias. Our aims were to study the diagnostic accuracy and interobserver agreement of VC for correct patient identification compared with conventional colonoscopy (CC).
METHODS—This was a prospective study of 50 patients successively undergoing VC and CC. Multiplanar two dimensional CT images and three dimensional VC were constructed using surface rendering software and interpreted by two independent investigator teams. VC findings were compared with those of CC. Interobserver agreement was determined using kappa statistics.
RESULTS—CC found 65 polyps in 24 patients. For identification of patients with polyps ⩾10 mm, the sensitivity of VC was 38% and 63%, and specificity was 74% and 74% for teams 1 and team 2. Interobserver agreement was good (kappa 0.72). For patients with polyps of any size, the sensitivity of VC was 75% and 71%, and specificity was 62% and 69% for teams 1 and 2. Interobserver agreement was fair (kappa 0.56). Accuracy improved when comparing the results of the first 24 with the last 26( )patients.
CONCLUSIONS—In our experience, VC had a low diagnostic value for identification of patients with colorectal neoplasias. Interobserver agreement for VC interpretation was fair. These results may be explained by software imperfections and a learning curve effect.


Keywords: computed tomographic; colonography; colonoscopy; diagnostic accuracy; interobserver agreemen

Unsatisfactory outcomes in myasthenia gravis: influence by care providers.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) can be difficult to treat despite an available therapeutic armamentarium. Our aim was to analyze the factors leading to unsatisfactory outcome (UO). To this end we used the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America classification system. Forty one patients with autoimmune MG were followed prospectively from January 2003 to December 2007. Outcomes were assessed throughout follow-up and at a final visit. 'Unchanged', 'worse', 'exacerbation' and 'died of MG' post-intervention status were considered UOs. During follow-up, UO rates reached 54% and were related to undertreatment (41%), poor treatment compliance (23%), infections (23%), and adverse drug effects (13%). The UO rate at final study assessment was 20%. UO during follow-up was significantly (P = 0.004) predictive of UOs at final assessment. When care was provided by neuromuscular (NM) specialists, patients had significantly better follow-up scores (P = 0.01). At final assessment UO rates were 7% and significantly better in patients treated by NM specialists, compared to other physicians where UO rates reached 27%. UO was a frequent finding occurring in more than half our patients during follow-up. Nearly two-thirds of the UOs could have been prevented by appropriate therapeutic adjustments and improved compliance. The differential UO rates at follow-up, their dependency on the degree to which the management was specialized and their correlation with final outcomes suggest that specialized MG care improves outcomes

Gaza Research Project: 1998 Survey of the Old City of Gaza

This article presents results of the first season of fieldwork conducted by the Gaza Research Project in 1998. Fieldwork comprised small-scale topographic survey around the old city of Gaza and reconnaissance of other second millennium tell sites in the region, namely Tell Ali Muntar. The primary aims were to examine the chronological and topographical relationship of two proximate tell sites lying at the southern limits of the Levantine coastal plain, between the Wadi al-Hasi and the Wadi Gaza, and to assess the feasibility of excavation of ancient Gaza