Concordance between a neuroradiologist, a consultant radiologist and trained reporting radiographers interpreting MRI head examinations: An empirical study

K Piper; M Mitchell; K Griffin; T Morgan; A Roy; A Thomas; L Pittock; N Woznitza; R Faruqui; M Sakel

doi:10.1016/j.radi.2020.10.016

Concordance between a neuroradiologist, a consultant radiologist and trained reporting radiographers interpreting MRI head examinations: An empirical study

Radiography (Lond). 2021 May;27(2):475-482. doi: 10.1016/j.radi.2020.10.016. Epub 2020 Nov 18.

Authors

K Piper¹, M Mitchell², K Griffin³, T Morgan⁴, A Roy⁵, A Thomas⁶, L Pittock⁷, N Woznitza⁸, R Faruqui⁹, M Sakel¹⁰

Affiliations

¹ School of Allied and Public Health Professions, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK. Electronic address: keith.piper@canterbury.ac.uk.
² School of Allied and Public Health Professions, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK; Imaging Department, Medway Maritime Hospital, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Gillingham, ME7 5NY, UK. Electronic address: martin.mitchell@canterbury.ac.uk.
³ Imaging Department, Medway Maritime Hospital, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Gillingham, ME7 5NY, UK. Electronic address: k6rff@icloud.com.
⁴ Radiology Department, Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust, Northampton, NN1 5BD, UK; Diagnostic/Medical Imaging Department, Hinchingbrooke Hospital, North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, Huntingdon, PE29 6NT, UK. Electronic address: ttmorgan2@hotmail.co.uk.
⁵ Radiology Department, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, SE1 7EH, UK. Electronic address: amit.roy2@gstt.nhs.uk.
⁶ School of Allied and Public Health Professions, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK. Electronic address: adrian.thomas@btinternet.com.
⁷ School of Allied and Public Health Professions, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK. Electronic address: lisa.pittock@canterbury.ac.uk.
⁸ School of Allied and Public Health Professions, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, UK; Radiology Department, University College London Hospitals, London, NW1 2PG, UK. Electronic address: nicholas.woznitza@nhs.net.
⁹ Centre for Health Services Studies, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NH, UK. Electronic address: rafey.faruqui@nhs.net.
¹⁰ NeuroRehabitation Service, East Kent University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Canterbury, CT1 3NG, UK. Electronic address: msakel@nhs.net.

PMID: 33218744
DOI: 10.1016/j.radi.2020.10.016

Abstract

Introduction: This study assessed agreement between MRI reporting radiographers and a consultant radiologist compared with an index neuroradiologist when reporting MRI head (brain/internal auditory meati [IAMs]) examinations. The effect on patient management of any discordant reports was also examined.

Methods: Two trained MRI reporting radiographers (RRs), a consultant radiologist (CR) and an index neuroradiologist (INR) reported on a random sample of 210 MRI examinations. The radiographers reported during clinical practice and the radiologists in clinical practice conditions. Two independent consultant physicians (neuro-rehabilitation and neuropsychiatry) compared these reports with the index neuroradiologist report for agreement and the clinical importance of discrepant reports.

Results: Overall observer agreement between the RRs and CR was comparable in relation to agreement with the INR: RR; 93/210 (44.3%); and the CR; 83/210 (39.4%) for all head MRI examinations (p = 0.32). For brain examinations the difference was similar: RR; 64/180 (35.6%); and CR; 54/190 (30.0%), p = 0.26. Agreement rates for the IAMs examinations were identical, 29/30 (97.7%). For all head MRI examinations (n = 210) there was a very small observed difference of <0.5% in mean agreement between the reporting radiographers and the consultant radiologist (p = 0.92) for examinations where a major disagreement would have been likely to have led to a change in patient management.

Conclusion: MRI reporting radiographers reported during clinical practice on MRI head examinations to a level of agreement comparable with a consultant radiologist.

Implications for practice: This is an area in which radiographers could provide additional reporting roles to the reporting service to increase capacity. Wider potential benefits include cost-effectiveness and role development/retention of radiographers.

Keywords: Agreement; Brain; Head; Magnetic resonance imaging; Radiographers; Radiologists.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Allied Health Personnel
Brain
Consultants*
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Radiologists*