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- Title
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Volume Measurements Determined with Computed Tomography: Study of Intraobserver and Interobserver Variability.
- Authors
Chang, Cheng-Chuan; Chen, Mu-Kuan; Wu, Hwa-Koon; Liu, Mu-Tai
- Abstract
Objective: To investigate the intraobserver and interobserver variability of computed tomography-based volume measurements of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Tertiary care centre. Methods: The primary tumour volume of 13 nasopharyngeal carcinomas was repeatedly measured by two trained observers independently in two different sessions, using the summation of area technique. Main Outcome Measures: Mean tumour volume and its standard deviation were calculated for each tumour. Statistical analysis was done with multivariate analysis, linear regression, and a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) random effects model. Results: The coefficient of variation was less than 20% in 11 volume measurements, but a large discrepancy between observers was noted in two tumours with involvement of the paranasal sinuses. A good linear correlation was found between mean tumour volume and its standard deviation: standard deviation = 0.26 volume - 2.48 (r = .80). When the two tumours with a large coefficient of variation were excluded, the two-way ANOVA random effects model revealed that both the inter-observer (p = .83) and the intraobserver (p = .90) effect are not statistically significant; interobserver variability was the major component of total variability (71.0%). Conclusions: Total variability in the computed tomography-based measurement of nasopharyngeal carcinoma volume is small by having the measurements done by a trained observer, except in tumours with involvement of the paranasal sinuses.
- Subjects
NASOPHARYNX cancer; TOMOGRAPHY
- Publication
Journal of Otolaryngology, 2002, Vol 31, Issue 6, p361
- ISSN
0381-6605
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2310/7070.2002.34540