Intra- and Inter-Reader Variations in Lung Nodule Measurements: Influences of Nodule Size, Location, and Observers

Abstract

(1) Background: Accurate measurement of lung-nodule size is necessary, but whether a three-dimensional volume measurement is better or more reliable than the one-dimensional method is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the intra- and inter-reader variations according to nodule type, size, three-dimensional volume measurements, and one-dimensional linear measurements. (2) Methods: This retrospective study included computed tomography (CT) examinations of lung nodules and volume measurements performed from October to December 2016. Two radiologists independently performed all measurements. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman plots were used for analysis. (3) Results: The overall variability in the calculated volume was larger than when using the semiautomatic volume measurement. Nodules <6 mm tended to have larger variability than nodules ≥6 mm in both one-dimensional and calculated volume measurements. The isolated type showed smaller variability in both intra- and inter-reader comparisons. The juxta-vascular type showed the largest variability in both one-dimensional and calculated volume measurements. The variability was decreased when using the 3D volume semiautomated software. (4) Conclusions: The present study suggests that 3D semiautomatic volume measurements showed lower variability than the calculated volume measurement. Nodule size and location influence measurement variability. The intra- and inter-reader variabilities in nodule volume measurement were considerable.

Keywords

• chest
• computed tomography
• pulmonary nodules
• measurement
• imaging
• three-dimensional