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Ultrasound Cine Loop Standard Operating Procedure for Benign Thyroid Diseases—Evaluation of Non-Physician Application

Authors :
Philipp Seifert
Ivonne Maikowski
Thomas Winkens
Christian Kühnel
Falk Gühne
Robert Drescher
Martin Freesmeyer
Source :
Diagnostics, Vol 11, Iss 1, p 67 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2021.

Abstract

Conventional ultrasound (US) is time-consuming, and results are subjected to high interobserver variability. In this study, the reliability of a novel thyroid US cine loop standard operating procedure (SOP) applied by non-physicians (Medical Technical Assistant, MTA) is investigated. Thirty-three consecutive patients (22 females, 11 males) were enrolled. Patients underwent conventional thyroid US performed by a nuclear medicine physician and additional MTA US cine loop according to a local SOP that includes transversal and sagittal cine loops covering the entire thyroid. The video sequences were transferred to the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) for second reading purposes. MTA US data were not considered for medical reports but for blinded second reading review of the PACS images. The results of conventional physician US reports and reviewed MTA US cine loops were compared regarding size determinations of the thyroid and its nodules, as well as Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data Systems (TIRADS) classification of all identified lesions. The results revealed very high concordance between conventional physician US and MTA US cine loop review for both size measurements and TIRADS classifications (r(s) = 0.84–0.99, p < 0.0001 each). Minor technical impairments were identified. The evaluated thyroid US cine loop SOP enables reliable second reading results and can be applied by non-physicians.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20754418
Volume :
11
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Diagnostics
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.7b8fa913f81493eba9555df18546e86
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11010067