- AI
- Molecular Imaging
- CT
- X-Ray
- Ultrasound
- MRI
- Facility Management
- Mammography
Peer review improves MSK tumor diagnosis
Researchers in Belgium have found that cooperation and consensus between radiologists and pathologists bolsters the diagnosis of musculoskeletal soft-tissue tumors when MR and histology results are contradictory.
Researchers in Belgium have found that cooperation and consensus between radiologists and pathologists bolsters the diagnosis of musculoskeletal soft-tissue tumors when MR and histology results are contradictory.
Belgium's incidence of benign and malignant MSK soft-tissue tumors such as intramuscular myxomas or myxofibrosarcomas is low, preventing investigators from gaining insight into these conditions. Research studies are scarce, and diagnosis, characterization, and staging methods are not standardized. In addition, little exchange between local research institutions exists, said principal investigator Dr. Jan L. M. Gielen, a radiologist at Antwerp University Hospital (UZA). Gielen spoke at a scientific session of the European Congress of Radiology meeting in March.
The Belgian Soft Tissue Neoplasm Registry (BSTNR) was created in 2001 by the UZA's radiology department and all MRI centers throughout the country. It provided the first 170 cases of lesions diagnosed as malignant by MRI despite having inconclusive histology. The BSTNR also assembled a peer-review group of six pathologists led by Dr. Raf Sciot from the University of Leuven.
Gielen and colleagues analyzed the benefit of having radiologists work closely with the peer-review group in all cases in which MRI and pathology results were discrepant. They found that the multidisciplinary approach achieved the highest level of accuracy for unresolved diagnosis of these tumors.
The group confirmed 73% of diagnoses and changed 27% of them. Peer-review results provided sensitivity, specificity, positive- and negative-predictive value of 88%, 96%, 93.5%, and 92.5%, respectively. All findings were statistically significant (p
Cases originally diagnosed as benign that changed to malignant were relevant because they had the potential to worsen prognosis. False negatives, however, did not bear such significance, Gielen said.
Cooperation between pathologists and radiologists reinforces the diagnosis of soft-tissue tumors, a trend several researchers mentioned in regard to bone tumor protocols. The findings suggest that all cases with MR and pathology discrepancies should be presented to a peer-review committee, which can provide a weighty second opinion to pathologists and help strengthen the scientific value of the existing literature, Gielen said.
For more information from the Diagnostic Imaging archives:
MR surpasses CT for detecting bone metastases
Radiologists look over their shoulders, knees, and hips
Low-dose multislice CT makes gains in bone marrow diagnosis
European Society of Breast Imaging Issues Updated Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations
April 24th 2024One of the recommendations from the European Society of Breast Imaging (EUSOBI) is annual breast MRI exams starting at 25 years of age for women deemed to be at high risk for breast cancer.
New Literature Review Assesses Merits of Cardiac MRI After Survival of Sudden Cardiac Arrest
April 19th 2024While noting inconsistencies with the diagnostic yield of cardiac MRI in patients who survived sudden cardiac arrest, researchers cited unique advantages in characterizing ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and facilitating alternate diagnoses.
Study of Ofatumumab for Multiple Sclerosis Shows 'Profoundly Suppressed MRI Lesion Activity'
April 17th 2024The use of continuous ofatumumab in patients within three years of a relapsing multiple sclerosis diagnosis led to substantial reductions in associated lesions on brain MRI scans, according to research recently presented at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) conference.
