J Korean Soc Radiol.  2011 Oct;65(4):381-387. 10.3348/jksr.2011.65.4.381.

Tumor Size Evaluation according to the T Component of the Seventh Edition of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer's TNM Classification: Interobserver Agreement between Radiologists and Computer-Aided Diagnosis System in Patients with Lung Cancer

• Kim JK
• Chong S
• Seo JS
• Lee SJ
• Han H

• KMID: 2002939
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2011.65.4.381

Abstract

PURPOSE
To assess the interobserver agreement for tumor size evaluation between radiologists and the computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system based on the 7th edition of the TNM classification by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer in patients with lung cancer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We evaluated 20 patients who underwent a lobectomy or pneumonectomy for primary lung cancer. The maximum diameter of each primary tumor was measured by two radiologists and a CAD system on CT, and was staged based on the 7th edition of the TNM classification. The CT size and T-staging of the primary tumors was compared with the pathologic size and staging and the variability in the sizes and T stages of primary tumors was statistically analyzed between each radiologist's measurement or CAD estimation and the pathologic results.
RESULTS
There was no statistically significant interobserver difference for the CT size among the two radiologists, between pathologic and CT size estimated by the radiologists, and between pathologic and CT staging by the radiologists and CAD system. However, there was a statistically significant interobserver difference between pathologic size and the CT size estimated by the CAD system (p = 0.003).
CONCLUSION
No significant differences were found in the measurement of tumor size among radiologists or in the assessment of T-staging by radiologists and the CAD system.

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung
Humans
Lung
Lung Neoplasms
Neoplasm Staging
Observer Variation
Pneumonectomy
Tomography, Spiral Computed

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Comparison of tumor sizes between two radiologists (A), radiologist 1 and pathology (B), radiologist 2 and pathology (C), and CAD and pathology (D). Note.-CAD = computer-aided diagnosis

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