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Reliability of change in lumbar MRI findings over time in patients with and without disc prosthesis—comparing two different image evaluation methods

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Abstract

Objectives

To assess the reliability of change in lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings evaluated retrospectively by direct comparison of images and by non-comparison.

Materials and methods

Pre-treatment and 2-year follow-up MRI was performed in 126 patients randomized to disc prosthesis surgery or non-surgical treatment. Two experienced radiologists independently evaluated progress and regress for Modic changes, disc findings, and facet arthropathy (FA) at L3/L4, L4/L5, and L5/S1, both by non-comparison and by comparison of initial and follow-up images. FA was evaluated at all levels, and other findings at non-operated levels. We calculated prevalence- and bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK) values for interobserver agreement. The impact of an adjacent prosthesis (which causes artefacts) and image evaluation method on PABAK was assessed using generalized estimating equations.

Results

Image comparison indicated good interobserver agreement on progress and regress (PABAK 0.63−1.00) for Modic changes, posterior high-intensity zone, disc height, and disc contour at L3-S1 and for nucleus pulposus signal and FA at L3/L4; and moderate interobserver agreement (PABAK 0.46−0.59) on decreasing nucleus signal and increasing FA at L4-S1. Image comparison indicated lower (but fair) interobserver agreement (PABAK 0.29) only for increasing FA at L5/S1 in patients with prosthesis in L4/L5 and/or L5/S1. An adjacent prosthesis had no overall impact on PABAK values (p ≥ 0.22). Comparison yielded higher PABAK values than non-comparison (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Regarding changes in lumbar MRI findings over time, comparison of images can provide moderate or good interobserver agreement, and better agreement than non-comparison. An adjacent prosthesis may not reduce agreement on change for most findings.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the patients who participated in this study. The study received financial support from the Western Norway Regional Health Authority, Haakon and Sigrun Ødegaard’s Fund at the Norwegian Society of Radiology, the South Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, and the Norwegian ExtraFoundation for Health and Rehabilitation through the Norwegian Back Pain Association.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Jonas Liesvei 65, 5021, Bergen, Norway

    Linda Berg, Gesche Neckelmann & Ansgar Espeland

  2. Section for Radiology, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

    Linda Berg & Ansgar Espeland

  3. Department of Neuroradiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

    Øivind Gjertsen

  4. Department of Orthopaedics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

    Christian Hellum

  5. Department of Orthopaedics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Christian Hellum

  6. National Centre for Diseases of the Spine, University Hospital of Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway

    Lars G. Johnsen

  7. Orthopaedic Department, University Hospital of Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway

    Lars G. Johnsen

  8. Centre for Clinical Research, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway

    Geir E. Eide

  9. Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

    Geir E. Eide

Authors
  1. Linda Berg
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  2. Øivind Gjertsen
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  3. Christian Hellum
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  4. Gesche Neckelmann
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  5. Lars G. Johnsen
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  6. Geir E. Eide
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  7. Ansgar Espeland
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ansgar Espeland.

Additional information

The study received financial support from the Western Norway Regional Health Authority, Haakon and Sigrun Ødegaard’s Fund at the Norwegian Society of Radiology, the South Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, and the Norwegian ExtraFoundation for Health and Rehabilitation through the Norwegian Back Pain Association.

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Berg, L., Gjertsen, Ø., Hellum, C. et al. Reliability of change in lumbar MRI findings over time in patients with and without disc prosthesis—comparing two different image evaluation methods. Skeletal Radiol 41, 1547–1557 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-012-1394-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-012-1394-5

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