Scan/rescan Reliability of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Details

• Alternative Title:
  European Spine Journal : Official Publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2025, v. 34, no. 3: Scan/rescan Reliability of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
• Journal Article:
  European Spine Journal : Official Publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
• Personal Author:
  Barim, Menekse Salar ; Capanoglu, M. Fehmi ; Sesek, Richard F. ; Gallagher, Sean ; Schall, Mark C. ; Beyers, Ronald J. ; Davis, Gerard A.
• Description:
  Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly used to estimate the geometric dimensions of lower lumbar vertebrae. While MRI-based measurements have demonstrated good reliability with interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of 0.80 or higher, many evaluations focus solely on the comparison of identical MRI images. This approach primarily reflects analyst dexterity and does not assess the reliability of the entire process, including imaging and image selection.
  
  To evaluate the inter- and intra-rater reliability of the entire process of using MRI to measure biomechanically relevant lumbar spinal characteristics, incorporating imaging, image selection, and analysis.
  
  A dataset of 144 low-back MRI scans was analyzed. Reliability assessments were performed under different conditions: (1) identical scans rated by the same analyst at different times (intra-rater reliability) and (2) distinct scans of the same subject obtained by different MRI operators and analyzed by different analysts (inter-rater reliability). Mean absolute differences in measurements were calculated, and sources of variability, such as breathing artifacts, were noted.
  
  Larger discrepancies were observed when comparing distinct scans analyzed by different MRI operators and analysts. In the "worst-case" scenario, where both the MRI operator and analyst differed, a 4.05% mean absolute difference was noted for anterior endplate measurements. This was higher than the 2.76% difference observed when analysts re-rated their own scans after one month. Despite these discrepancies, the variability in measurements was relatively low and primarily attributed to factors like breathing artifacts.
  
  The process of using MRI to derive biomechanical measures, particularly for bony structures, demonstrates robust reliability. Variability in measurements is minimal even under challenging conditions, supporting the use of MRI for biomechanical assessments.
• Content Notes:
  Author manuscript
• Subjects:
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Lumbar Vertebrae
  • Observer Variation
  • Male
  • Female
  • Adult
  • Middle Aged
• Keywords:
  • Vertebral and intervertebral dimensions
  • Magnetic resonance imaging
  • Repeatability
  • Reliability
• Source:
  European Spine Journal : Official Publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2025, v. 34, no. 3
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-025-08649-8
• ISSN:
  0940-6719 ; 1432-0932
• Pubmed ID:
  39827428
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC11909044
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  CC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States/ ; #2T420H008436/OH/NIOSH CDC HHSUnited States/
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Pages in Document:
  887-895 (24 pdf pages)
• Volume:
  34
• Issue:
  3
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/261759/cdc_261759_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.19 MB]
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:5649b1d99d1dc775e502d8ebb67d1ba19f4e56d9bc04f958392c9f0adff70df678e363b96274f27fa574ce8271d1f8e2e190247536eb30d44b1f008f5486a781