Hrudaya Nath

MD

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Radiologist

NLST (Learn more about this study)

2006-00324

Feb 20, 2006

Observer Variability among PLCO-NLST Radiologists in Interpretation of T-1 CT

This study is continuation of measurement of variability of interpretation of CT findings in the NLST trial by a sub set of radiologists involved in reading the CT scans. The first study assessed the intrepretive process of a base line (T-0) CT and included radiologists' assessment of: 1) whether a lung nodule is present, 2) whether detected nodules contain a benign pattern of calcification, and 3) whether detected noncalcified nodules are 4 mm in their greatest dimension. The role of radiologists in the reading of subsequent CTs (T-1 and T-2) includes 1) detection of new nodules, and 2) any change (increase in size, change in attenuation and / or edge characteristics) of previously detected nodules. Such determination dictates management recommendations by the interpreting radiologist; if there is no change in the size, attenuation or other features of a noncalcified nodule, only continuing the NLST screening is recommended. However, if there is a perceptible change in any of the above characteristics, some kind of interval follow up is suggested. Therefore, detection of new abnormality or change in preexisting nodule is as important as characterization of a nodule at the baseline CT. Therefore, the primary goal of this study is to measure variation in the detection of such change in a nodule detected in a post T-0 CT scan