BACKGROUND Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measured by B-mode ultrasonography is a marker of atherosclerosis and is commonly used as an outcome in intervention trials. We have developed DICOM-based software that measures CIMT rapidly on multiple end-diastolic image frames. The aims of this study were to compare the performance of our new software with older bitmap-based CIMT measurement s...

For a number of reasons, it is important to know and understand test variability or reproducibility. All pulmonary function tests are subject to: 1) technical variation related to instrument procedure, calibration, observer, subject, and their interaction; 2) biological variation; and 3) variation caused by dysfunction or disease [1]. A knowledge and understanding of test variability can enhanc...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Echocardiographic evaluation of right ventricular systolic function remains subject to debate because of the anatomic peculiarities of the right ventricle. Several methods have been developed for quantifying right ventricular systolic function. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability and reproducibility of a number of echocardiographic parameters by ev...

Fifteen independent observers of three levels of experience (consultant staff, fellows, residents) assessed 40 radiographs of children presenting with Perthes' disease using the Catterall and the Salter-Thompson grading systems. Each observer was supplied with descriptions and illustrations of the classifications and each hip was grouped by both systems by each observer. The results were statis...

PURPOSE To evaluate the intra- and inter-observer variability of the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) and Warfarin-Aspirin Symptomatic Intracranial Disease (WASID) criteria for the evaluation of middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis using digital subtraction angiography (DSA). MATERIALS AND METHODS DSA images of 114 cases with 131 stenotic MCAs were retrospecti...

AIMS To evaluate observer variation in diagnosis of villitis of unknown aetiology. METHODS Fifty haematoxylin and eosin stained sections were circulated to three pathologists who were asked to assess if villitis was present. These slides, with an additional 20, were recirculated and reassessed by the same pathologists. RESULTS Intra-observer agreement was 84.7% (range 74--92%) and interobse...

UNLABELLED To evaluate the association of redundant nerve roots of cauda equina (RNRCE) with the degree of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and with spondylolisthesis. METHOD After Institutional Board approval, 171 consecutive patients were retrospectively enrolled, 105 LSS patients and 66 patients without stenosis. The dural sac cross-sectional area (CSA) was measured on T2w axial MRI at the lev...

background: the accuracy and reproducibility of measurements in a locally made three dimensional (3d) simulator was assessed and compared with manual caliper measurements. materials and methods: a total of 20 casts were scanned by our laser scanner. software capabilities included dimensional measurements, transformation and rotation of the cast as a whole, separation and rotation of each tooth ...